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The catalytic role of glutathione transferases in heterologous anthocyanin biosynthesis

Journal Article (2023)
Author(s)

Michael Eichenberger (Zurich University of Applied Science (ZHAW))

Thomas Schwander (Zurich University of Applied Science (ZHAW))

Sean Hüppi (TU Delft - Applied Sciences, Zurich University of Applied Science (ZHAW))

Jan Kreuzer (Zurich University of Applied Science (ZHAW))

Peer R.E. Mittl (Universitat Zurich)

Francesca Peccati (Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA))

Gonzalo Jiménez-Osés (Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Basque Foundation for Science)

Michael Naesby (Lantana Bio)

Rebecca M. Buller (Zurich University of Applied Science (ZHAW))

Research Group
BT/Biocatalysis
DOI related publication
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41929-023-01018-y Final published version
More Info
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Publication Year
2023
Language
English
Research Group
BT/Biocatalysis
Issue number
10
Volume number
6
Pages (from-to)
927-938
Downloads counter
307
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Institutional Repository
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Abstract

Anthocyanins are ubiquitous plant pigments used in a variety of technological applications. Yet, after over a century of research, the penultimate biosynthetic step to anthocyanidins attributed to the action of leucoanthocyanidin dioxygenase has never been efficiently reconstituted outside plants, preventing the construction of heterologous cell factories. Through biochemical and structural analysis, here we show that anthocyanin-related glutathione transferases, currently implicated only in anthocyanin transport, catalyse an essential dehydration of the leucoanthocyanidin dioxygenase product, flavan-3,3,4-triol, to generate cyanidin. Building on this knowledge, introduction of anthocyanin-related glutathione transferases into a heterologous biosynthetic pathway in baker’s yeast results in >35-fold increased anthocyanin production. In addition to unravelling the long-elusive anthocyanin biosynthesis, our findings pave the way for the colourants’ heterologous microbial production and could impact the breeding of industrial and ornamental plants. [Figure not available: see fulltext.]