Functional characterization and differential expression studies of squalene synthase from Withania somnifera.

Mol Biol Rep

Plant Tissue Culture Division, National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune 411008, Maharashtra, India.

Published: September 2012

Squalene synthase (SQS: EC 2.5.1.21) is a potential branch point regulatory enzyme and represents the first committed step to diverge the carbon flux from the main isoprenoid pathway towards sterol biosynthesis. In the present study, cloning and characterization of Withania somnifera squalene synthase (WsSQS) cDNA was investigated subsequently followed by its heterologous expression and preliminary enzyme activity. Two different types of WsSQS cDNA clones (WsSQS1and WsSQS2) were identified that contained an open reading frames of 1,236 and 1,242 bp encoding polypeptides of 412 and 414 amino acids respectively. Both WsSQS isoforms share 99 % similarity and identity with each other. WsSQS deduced amino acids sequences, when compared with SQS of other plant species, showed maximum similarity and identity with Capsicum annuum followed by Solanum tuberosum and Nicotiana tabacum. To obtain soluble recombinant enzymes, 24 hydrophobic amino acids were deleted from the carboxy terminus and expressed as 6X His-Tag fusion protein in Escherichia coli. Approximately 43 kDa recombinant protein was purified using Ni-NTA affinity chromatography and checked on SDS-PAGE. Preliminary activity of the purified enzymes was determined and the products were analyzed by gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS). Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis showed that WsSQS expresses more in young leaves than mature leaves, stem and root.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11033-012-1743-4DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

squalene synthase
12
amino acids
12
withania somnifera
8
somnifera squalene
8
wssqs cdna
8
similarity identity
8
wssqs
5
functional characterization
4
characterization differential
4
differential expression
4

Similar Publications

Triune Engineering Approach for (+)-valencene Overproduction in Yarrowia lipolytica.

Biotechnol J

January 2025

Key Laboratory of Engineering Biology for Low-carbon Manufacturing, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China.

The sesquiterpene (+)-valencene, with its flavor and diverse biological functions, holds promise for applications in the food, fragrance, and pharmaceutical industries. However, the low concentration in nature and high cost of extraction limit its application. This study aimed to construct a microbial cell factory to efficiently produce (+)-valencene.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The roots of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer (ginseng) are one of the traditional medicinal herbs in Asian countries and is known as the "king of all herbs".

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to explore the effects of targeting the mevalonate pathway (MVP) in rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), a common soft tissue tumor in young individuals.
  • In silico analyses showed that higher levels of MVP-related genes correlated with poorer patient survival, while in vitro tests revealed that MVP inhibitors significantly reduced RMS cell growth, migration, and survival.
  • In vivo experiments demonstrated the effectiveness of MVP inhibition in RMS xenografts, highlighting the potential of these inhibitors as a therapeutic strategy against RMS.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Discovery and Functional Identification of 2,3-Oxidosqualene Cyclases and Cytochrome P450s in Triterpenoid Metabolic Pathways of .

J Agric Food Chem

December 2024

Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Biosynthesis and Metabolism of Effective Components of Chinese Medicine, International Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, P. R. China.

Article Synopsis
  • * The study identified key enzyme genes involved in the triterpenoid metabolic pathways using transcriptome sequencing and synthetic biology, particularly focusing on two 2,3-oxidosqualene cyclases and two cytochrome P450s.
  • * Researchers successfully reconstructed the biosynthetic pathway for ursane and oleanane-type triterpenoids in a yeast host, detailing the enzymatic reactions necessary for producing important compounds like ursolic acid and oleanolic acid.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Squalene synthase (SQS) plays a crucial role in the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway. Its distinctive strategic position makes it a promising candidate for targeting and developing new anti-hypercholesterolemic agents. To uncover novel phytochemical scaffolds as potential inhibitors of SQS, we employed a structure-based virtual screening approach that involves screening 545 phytochemicals collected from Moroccan aromatic and medicinal plants and filtering them based on RMSD values and their affinity towards the target enzyme.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!