A gene cluster in Ginkgo biloba encodes unique multifunctional cytochrome P450s that initiate ginkgolide biosynthesis.

ABSTRACT: The ginkgo tree (Ginkgo biloba) is considered a living fossil due to its 200 million year's history under morphological stasis. Its resilience is partly attributed to its unique set of specialized metabolites, in particular, ginkgolides and bilobalide, which are chemically complex terpene trilactones. Here, we use a gene cluster-guided mining approach in combination with co-expression analysis to reveal the primary steps in ginkgolide biosynthesis. We show that five multifunctional cytochrome P450s with atypical catalytic activities generate the tert-butyl group and one of the lactone rings, characteristic of all G. biloba trilactone terpenoids. The reactions include scarless C-C bond cleavage as well as carbon skeleton rearrangement (NIH shift) occurring on a previously unsuspected interm

SUBMITTER: Forman V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9436924 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature