Abstract
Crocins are beneficial antioxidants and potential chemotherapeutics that give raise, together with picrocrocin, to the color and taste of saffron, the most expensive spice, respectively. Crocins are formed from crocetin dialdehyde that is produced in Crocus sativus from zeaxanthin by the Carotenoid Cleavage Dioxygenase 2L (CsCCD2L), while GjCCD4a from Gardenia jasminoides, another major source of crocins, converted different carotenoids, including zeaxanthin, into crocetin dialdehyde in bacterio. To establish a biotechnological platform for sustainable production of crocins, we investigated the enzymatic activity of GjCCD4a, in comparison to CsCCD2L, in citrus callus engineered by Agrobacterium-mediated super-transformation of multi genes and in transiently transformed Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. We demonstrate that co-expression of GjCCD4a with phytoene synthase and β-carotene hydroxylase genes is an optimal combination for heterologous production of crocetin, crocins and picrocrocin in citrus callus. By profiling apocarotenoids and using in vitro assays, we show that GjCCD4a cleaved β-carotene, in planta, and produced crocetin dialdehyde via C30 β-apocarotenoid intermediate. GjCCD4a also cleaved C27 β-apocarotenoids, providing a new route for C17-dialdehyde biosynthesis. Callus lines overexpressing GjCCD4a contained higher number of plastoglobuli in chromoplast-like plastids and increased contents in phytoene, C17:0 fatty acid (FA), and C18:1 cis-9 and C22:0 FA esters. GjCCD4a showed a wider substrate specificity and higher efficiency in Nicotiana leaves, leading to the accumulation of up to 1.6 mg/g dry weight crocins. In summary, we established a system for investigating CCD enzymatic activity in planta and an efficient biotechnological platform for crocins production in green and non-green crop tissues/organs.
Original language | English (US) |
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Journal | Plant Biotechnology Journal |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 29 2022 |
Bibliographical note
KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2022-09-14Acknowledged KAUST grant number(s): CRG 2017, CRG 2020
Acknowledgements: We thank Prof. Xiuxin Deng providing the wild-type calli of grapefruit (C. paradisiMacf.). We thank Dr. Elliott J. Price for technical support, and Dr. Juan C. Moreno and Dr. Yajun Wang for valuable discussions. This work was supported by baseline funding and Competitive Research Grants (CRG 2017, CRG 2020) given to Salim Al-Babili from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST).
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Plant Science
- Agronomy and Crop Science
- Biotechnology