Biosynthesis of bioactive diterpenoids in the medicinal plant Vitex agnus-castus

Heskes, Allison M. and Meenakshi Sundram, Tamil Chelvan and Boughton, Berin A. and Jensen, Niels Bjerg and Hansen, Nikolaj Lervad and Crocoll, Christoph and Cozzi, Federico and Rasmussen, Silas Anselm and Hamberger, Britta and Hamberger, Björn Rn and Staerk, Dan and Lindberg Møller, Birger and Pateraki, Irini (2018) Biosynthesis of bioactive diterpenoids in the medicinal plant Vitex agnus-castus. Plant Journal, 93 (5). pp. 943-958. ISSN 0960-7412 E-ISSN 1365-313X

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Abstract

Vitex agnus‐castus L. (Lamiaceae) is a medicinal plant historically used throughout the Mediterranean region to treat menstrual cycle disorders, and is still used today as a clinically effective treatment for premenstrual syndrome. The pharmaceutical activity of the plant extract is linked to its ability to lower prolactin levels. This feature has been attributed to the presence of dopaminergic diterpenoids that can bind to dopamine receptors in the pituitary gland. Phytochemical analyses of V. agnus‐castus show that it contains an enormous array of structurally related diterpenoids and, as such, holds potential as a rich source of new dopaminergic drugs. The present work investigated the localisation and biosynthesis of diterpenoids in V. agnus‐castus. With the assistance of matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionisation‐mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI‐MSI), diterpenoids were localised to trichomes on the surface of fruit and leaves. Analysis of a trichome‐specific transcriptome database, coupled with expression studies, identified seven candidate genes involved in diterpenoid biosynthesis: three class II diterpene synthases (diTPSs); three class I diTPSs; and a cytochrome P450 (CYP). Combinatorial assays of the diTPSs resulted in the formation of a range of different diterpenes that can account for several of the backbones of bioactive diterpenoids observed in V. agnus‐castus. The identified CYP, VacCYP76BK1, was found to catalyse 16‐hydroxylation of the diol‐diterpene, peregrinol, to labd‐13Z‐ene‐9,15,16‐triol when expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Notably, this product is a potential intermediate in the biosynthetic pathway towards bioactive furan‐ and lactone‐containing diterpenoids that are present in this species.

Item Type:	Article (Journal)
Additional Information:	8338/64055
Uncontrolled Keywords:	bioactive diterpenoid, Vitex agnus‐castus, terpene synthase, cytochrome P450, MALDI‐MS imaging, Lamiaceae
Subjects:	Q Science > Q Science (General)
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Science > Department of Plant Science
Depositing User:	Engku Norulizati Engku Aziz
Date Deposited:	08 Jun 2018 15:28
Last Modified:	31 Aug 2019 09:29
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/64055

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