A Novel UDP-Glycosyltransferase of Rhodiola crenulata Converts Tyrosol to Specifically Produce Icariside D2.

ABSTRACT: Rhodiola crenulata is a Tibetan native herbal plant belonging to the family of Crassulaceae, which produces the pharmaceutical icariside D2 with the activities of inhibiting angiotensin-converting enzyme and killing leukemia cancer cells. In this study, we functionally characterized a novel UDP-glycosyltransferase (RcUGT1) that converted tyrosol to specifically produce icariside D2 from R. crenulata at molecular and biochemical levels. RcUGT1 was highly expressed in flowers and roots, while the icariside D2 content was much higher in stems than that in other organs, suggesting the potential translocation of icariside D2 from flowers and roots to stems. The high production of icariside D2 in stems provided a reasonable suggestion to farmers to harvest stems inste

SUBMITTER: Liao Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6031081 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature