Triterpenoids in aerenchymatous phellem contribute to internal root aeration and waterlogging adaptability in soybeans.

Soybeans (Glycine max) develop newly differentiated aerenchymatous phellem (AP) in response to waterlogging stress. AP is formed in the hypocotyl and root, thus contributing to internal aeration and adaptation to waterlogging for several legumes. Extensive accumulation of triterpenoids - lupeol and betulinic acid - has been identified in AP.

High-yield bioactive triterpenoid production by heterologous expression in using the Tsukuba system.

Oleanolic acid is a pentacyclic triterpenoid found in numerous plant species and is a precursor to several bioactive triterpenoids with commercial potential. However, oleanolic acid accumulates at low levels in plants, and its chemical synthesis is challenging. Here, we established a method for producing oleanolic acid in substantial quantities heterologous expression of pathway enzymes in .

Identification of key amino acid residues toward improving the catalytic activity and substrate specificity of plant-derived cytochrome P450 monooxygenases CYP716A subfamily enzyme for triterpenoid production in .

Triterpenoids constitute a group of specialized plant metabolites with wide structural diversity and high therapeutic value for human health. Cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYP) are a family of enzymes important for generating the structural diversity of triterpenoids by catalyzing the site-specific oxidization of the triterpene backbone. The CYP716 enzyme family has been isolated from various plant families as triterpenoid oxidases; however, their experimental crystal structures are not yet available and the detailed catalytic mechanism remains elusive.