Elucidation of catalytic mechanisms underlying the regio-specificity of plant aromatic prenyltransferases

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K22563
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0601:Agricultural chemistry and related fields
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: Munakata Ryosuke 京都大学, 生存圏研究所, 助教 (40790275)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-09-11 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: プレニル化フェノール類 / プレニル化酵素 / 位置特異性 / 触媒機構 / 3Dモデリング

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Plants produce a variety of prenylated phenolics which show bioactivities beneficial to human health, where these bioactivities are often due to prenyl side chains attached to phenolic core structures. The transfer of prenyl moieties is catalyzed by prenyltransferases (PTs), which, in general, transfer prenyl moieties with high regio-specificity. This enzymatic property is useful for efficient production of prenylated phenolics. In this study, we aimed to elucidate catalytic mechanisms underlying the regio-specificity of plant PTs. By biochemical analysis of PT mutants and 3D modeling, we were able to approach the discovery of amino acid residues crucial to the regio-specificity and the catalytic mechanism by these residues.

Free Research Field

植物二次（特化）代謝

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

プレニル化フェノール類は植物において病害虫に対する化学防御に寄与する他、抗ガン活性や抗肥満活性といった人の健康維持・向上に貢献する薬理活性を示すなど、植物科学のみならず薬学・食品科学など幅広い分野で着目される化合物群である。本研究は、プレニル化フェノール類の生合成の鍵となるプレニル化酵素の触媒機構解明を目指すものである。そのため、ここで得られた成果は植物の生存戦略の理解の深化に繋がり、また有益な生理活性を有するプレニル化フェノール類の大量生産といった応用研究の基礎となると考えられる。