Biosynthesis and localization of parthenolide in glandular trichomes of feverfew ( Tanacetum parthenium L. Schulz Bip.)

• Published in: Phytochemistry (Oxford) Vol. 72; no. 14; pp. 1739 - 1750
• Main Authors: Majdi, Mohammad, Liu, Qing, Karimzadeh, Ghasem, Malboobi, Mohammad Ali, Beekwilder, Jules, Cankar, Katarina, Vos, Ric de, Todorović, Sladjana, Simonović, Ana, Bouwmeester, Harro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Alkyl and Aryl Transferases - genetics; Alkyl and Aryl Transferases - metabolism; Amino Acid Sequence; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal - analysis; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; biosynthesis; Chemical constitution; developmental stages; DNA, Complementary - genetics; Escherichia coli - genetics; Escherichia coli - metabolism; Feverfew; flowering; Flowers - genetics; Fruit - genetics; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; genes; germacrene; Germacrene A synthase; Glandular trichome; medicinal plants; migraine; neoplasms; Organ Specificity; Parthenolide; Phylogeny; Plant Extracts - chemistry; Plant Leaves - genetics; Plant physiology and development; Plant Proteins - genetics; Plant Proteins - metabolism; Plant Roots - genetics; Plant Stems - genetics; Plants, Medicinal; Recombinant Proteins - genetics; Recombinant Proteins - metabolism; RNA, Messenger - genetics; RNA, Plant - genetics; Sequence Alignment; Sesquiterpenes - analysis; Sesquiterpenes - metabolism; sesquiterpenoid lactones; Tanacetum parthenium; Tanacetum parthenium - chemistry; Tanacetum parthenium - enzymology; Tanacetum parthenium - growth & development; Tanacetum parthenium - metabolism; trichomes; CarS; ADS; RGE; Glandular trichome; FDP; Tanacetum parthenium; RACE; GAS; MVA; SEM; Parthenolide; Tp; DHA; Feverfew; Germacrene A synthase; Enzyme; Chemical structure; Biosynthesis; Synthase; Compositae; Trichome; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Plant origin; Spermatophyta; Localization
• ISSN: 0031-9422; 1873-3700
• DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2011.04.021

The highest expression of germacrene A synthase ( TpGAS), the first dedicated step in parthenolide biosynthesis, coincided with the highest concentration of parthenolide in glandular trichomes of feverfew ( Tanacetum parthenium) suggesting that glandular trichomes are the main place of parthenolide biosynthesis and accumulation. [Display omitted] ► Tanacetum parthenium is an important medicinal plant accumulating parthenolide. ► The gene encoding germacrene A synthase ( TpGAS) was cloned and expressed. ► The highest expression of TpGAS was observed in glandular trichomes. ► Glandular trichomes contain the highest concentration of parthenolide. ► Biosynthesis of parthenolide is developmentally regulated in feverfew. Feverfew ( Tanacetum parthenium) is a perennial medicinal herb and is a rich source of sesquiterpene lactones. Parthenolide is the main sesquiterpene lactone in feverfew and has attracted attention because of its medicinal potential for treatment of migraine and cancer. In the present work the parthenolide content in different tissues and developmental stages of feverfew was analyzed to study the timing and localization of parthenolide biosynthesis. The strongest accumulating tissue was subsequently used to isolate sesquiterpene synthases with the goal to isolate the gene encoding the first dedicated step in parthenolide biosynthesis. This led to the isolation and charachterization of a germacrene A synthase ( TpGAS) and an ( E)-β-caryophyllene synthase ( TpCarS) . Transcript level patterns of both sesquiterpene synthases were analyzed in different tissues and glandular trichomes. Although TpGAS was expressed in all aerial tissues, the highest expression was observed in tissues that contain high concentrations of parthenolide and in flowers the highest expression was observed in the biosynthetically most active stages of flower development. The high expression of TpGAS in glandular trichomes which also contain the highest concentration of parthenolide, suggests that glandular trichomes are the secretory tissues where parthenolide biosynthesis and accumulation occur.