Isolation and characterization of a glycosyltransferase with specific catalytic activity towards flavonoids from Tripterygium wilfordii

Abstract

Flavonoids are important secondary metabolites that exist in many medicinal plants. Flavonoid glycosyltransferases can transfer sugar moieties to their parent rings, producing various flavonoid glycosides with significant pharmacological activities. Here, we report the molecular cloning of the O-glycosyltransferase TwUGT2 from Tripterygium wilfordii and its catalytic activity was explored by heterologous expression in E. coli. The results showed that TwUGT2 has specific glycosyltransferase activity towards C-3 and 7 hydroxyl groups of flavonoids, thereby converting quercetin and pinocembrin into isoquercitrin and pinocembrin 7-O-beta-D-glucoside, respectively. The identification of TwUGT2 will provide a useful molecular tool for synthetic biology and contribute to drug discovery.

Keywords:

• Flavonoid glycosyltransferase
• catalytic activity
• quercetin
• pinocembrin

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was financially supported by the Support Project of High-level Teachers in Beijing Municipal Universities in the Period of 13th Five-year Plan (CIT&TCD20170324), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81773830), the Beijing Natural Science Foundation Program and Scientific Research Key Program of Beijing Municipal Commission of Education (KZ201710025022), the National Program for Special Support of Eminent Professionals, and the Key project at central government level: The ability establishment of sustainable use for valuable Chinese Medicine Resources (2060302-1806-03) to LH.