Identification of enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of bioactive sulfur-containing compounds in medicinal plants and its downstream application

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K07097
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 47050:Environmental and natural pharmaceutical resources-related
• Research Institution: Chiba University
• Principal Investigator: YOSHIMOTO Naoko 千葉大学, 大学院薬学研究院, 講師 (10415333)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 浅野 孝 岩手医科大学, 薬学部, 助教 (10552888)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 天然薬用資源 / 植物 / 生合成 / 遺伝子 / 含硫黄成分

Outline of Final Research Achievements

S-Alk(en)ylcysteine sulfoxides (CSOs) are sulfur-containing health-beneficial compounds characteristically found in plants belonging to Allium, Tulbaghia, and Mansoa. In this study, we found some environmental and developmental factors that affect the content of CSOs. Using the information on the factors affecting the CSOs content and the deep-transcriptome data, we identified enzymatic genes potentially involved in the biosynthesis of CSOs. Some genes were confirmed for their function in the biosynthesis of CSOs by analyzing the catalytic function of the encoded protein and the tissue-specific gene expression patterns.

Free Research Field

生合成

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、植物が生産する機能性含硫黄成分であるCSOsについての生合成の分子基盤を明らかにするものである。本研究成果は、人類にとって有用な含硫黄成分の効率的な生物生産系を合成生物学的アプローチによって構築するための基礎的知見として役立つものであり、天然に存在する有用遺伝子資源の探索と活用としての意義がある。