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- Title
Engineering triterpene production in Saccharomyces cerevisiae–β-amyrin synthase from Artemisia annua.
- Authors
Kirby, James; Romanini, Dante W.; Paradise, Eric M.; Keasling, Jay D.
- Abstract
Using a degenerate primer designed from triterpene synthase sequences, we have isolated a new gene from the medicinal plant Artemisia annua. The predicted protein is highly similar to β-amyrin synthases (EC 5.4.99.–), sharing amino acid sequence identities of up to 86%. Expression of the gene, designated AaBAS, in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, followed by GC/MS analysis, confirmed the encoded enzyme as a β-amyrin synthase. Through engineering the sterol pathway in S. cerevisiae, we explore strategies for increasing triterpene production, using AaBAS as a test case. By manipulation of two key enzymes in the pathway, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase and lanosterol synthase, we have improved β-amyrin production by 50%, achieving levels of 6 mg·L−1 culture. As we have observed a 12-fold increase in squalene levels, it appears that this strain has the capacity for even higher β-amyrin production. Options for further engineering efforts are explored.
- Subjects
SACCHAROMYCES cerevisiae; AMYRIN; ARTEMISIA; GENES; AMINO acids
- Publication
FEBS Journal, 2008, Vol 275, Issue 8, p1852
- ISSN
1742-464X
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/j.1742-4658.2008.06343.x