Identification and expression of isoflavone synthase, the key enzyme for biosynthesis of isoflavones in legumes. [Erratum: May 2000, v. 18 (5), p. 559.]

• Published in: Nature biotechnology Vol. 18; no. 2; pp. 208 - 212
• Main Authors: Jung, W, Yu, O, Lau, S.M.C, O'Keefe, D.P, Odell, J, Fader, G, McGonigle, B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Nature 01.02.2000; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: Alfalfa; Anthocyanins - biosynthesis; Arabidopsis - enzymology; Arabidopsis - genetics; Arabidopsis thaliana; Biological and medical sciences; Biosynthesis; Biotechnology; Chenopodiaceae - enzymology; Chenopodiaceae - genetics; complementary DNA; Cytochrome; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System - genetics; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System - metabolism; Cytochrome P450; Cytochromes P450; Enzymes; Fabaceae; Fabaceae - enzymology; Fabaceae - genetics; Flavanones; Flavonoids - metabolism; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; gene expression; gene transfer; Genes; Genes, Plant; Genes. Genome; Genetic engineering; Genetic technics; Genetic Vectors; Genistein; Genistein - metabolism; Genomic Library; glycine (amino acid); Glycine max; Glycine max - enzymology; Glycine max - genetics; Homology; isoflavone synthase; Isoflavones; Isoflavones - metabolism; Legumes; Lignin; Lignin - biosynthesis; Methods. Procedures. Technologies; Molecular and cellular biology; Molecular genetics; Nodulation; Oxygenases - biosynthesis; Oxygenases - genetics; phenylpropanoids; Plants, Genetically Modified; Plants, Medicinal; Red clover; Seeds; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Snow; Soybeans; Spectrum analysis; Transgenic animals and transgenic plants; Transgenic plants; Yeasts; Pharmacological activity; Nucleotide sequence; Enzyme; Cytochrome P450; Homology; Gene expression; Glycine max; Isoflavone derivatives; Arabidopsis thaliana; Grain legume; Leguminosae; Gene; Cruciferae; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Spermatophyta; Transgenic plant; Experimental plant
• ISSN: 1087-0156; 1546-1696
• DOI: 10.1038/72671

Isoflavones have drawn much attention because of their benefits to human health. These compounds, which are produced almost exclusively in legumes, have natural roles in plant defense and root nodulation. Isoflavone synthase catalyzes the first committed step of isoflavone biosynthesis, a branch of the phenylpropanoid pathway. To identify the gene encoding this enzyme, we used a yeast expression assay to screen soybean ESTs encoding cytochrome P450 proteins. We identified two soybean genes encoding isoflavone synthase, and used them to isolate homologous genes from other leguminous species including red clover, white clover, hairy vetch, mung bean, alfalfa, lentil, snow pea, and lupine, as well as from the nonleguminous sugarbeet. We expressed soybean isoflavone synthase in Arabidopsis thaliana, which led to production of the isoflavone genistein in this nonlegume plant. Identification of the isoflavone synthase gene should allow manipulation of the phenylpropanoid pathway for agronomic and nutritional purposes.