UGT75L6 and UGT94E5 mediate sequential glucosylation of crocetin to crocin in Gardenia jasminoides

FEBS Lett. 2012 Apr 5;586(7):1055-61. doi: 10.1016/j.febslet.2012.03.003. Epub 2012 Mar 10.

Abstract

Crocin is an apocarotenoid glycosyl ester accumulating in fruits of Gardenia jasminoides and used as a food coloring and nutraceutical. For the first time, the two glucosyltransferases UGT75L6 and UGT94E5 that sequentially mediate the final glucosylation steps in crocin biosynthesis in G. jasminoides have been identified and functionally characterized. UGT75L6 preferentially glucosylates the carboxyl group of crocetin yielding crocetin glucosyl esters, while UGT94E5 glucosylates the 6' hydroxyl group of the glucose moiety of crocetin glucosyl esters. The expression pattern of neither UGT75L6 nor UGT94E5 correlated with the pattern of crocin accumulation in G. jasminoides.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alkylation
  • Carotenoids / metabolism*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Food Coloring Agents / metabolism*
  • Fruit / enzymology
  • Gardenia / cytology
  • Gardenia / enzymology*
  • Gardenia / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
  • Glucosides / metabolism
  • Glucosyltransferases / genetics
  • Glucosyltransferases / metabolism*
  • Isoenzymes / genetics
  • Isoenzymes / metabolism
  • Phylogeny
  • Plant Proteins / genetics
  • Plant Proteins / metabolism*
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Seedlings / cytology
  • Seedlings / enzymology
  • Seedlings / metabolism
  • Substrate Specificity
  • Uridine Diphosphate Glucose / metabolism*
  • Vitamin A / analogs & derivatives

Substances

  • Food Coloring Agents
  • Glucosides
  • Isoenzymes
  • Plant Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • trans-sodium crocetinate
  • Vitamin A
  • Carotenoids
  • crocin
  • Glucosyltransferases
  • Uridine Diphosphate Glucose