Characterization of the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway in Dioscorea transversa.

ABSTRACT: Cholesterol is the precursor of bioactive plant metabolites such as steroidal saponins. An Australian plant, Dioscorea transversa, produces only two steroidal saponins: 1β-hydroxyprotoneogracillin and protoneogracillin. Here, we used D. transversa as a model in which to elucidate the biosynthetic pathway to cholesterol, a precursor to these compounds. Preliminary transcriptomes of D. transversa rhizome and leaves were constructed, annotated, and analyzed. We identified a novel sterol side-chain reductase as a key initiator of cholesterol biosynthesis in this plant. By complementation in yeast, we determine that this sterol side-chain reductase reduces Δ^24,28 double bonds required for phytosterol biogenesis as well as Δ^24,25 double bonds. The latter function is believe

SUBMITTER: Salisbury LJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10267570 | biostudies-literature | 2023 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature