Biotransformation of mogrosides from Siraitia grosvenorii Swingle by Saccharomyces cerevisiae

J Agric Food Chem. 2013 Jul 24;61(29):7127-34. doi: 10.1021/jf402058p. Epub 2013 Jul 11.

Abstract

Mogrosides are a group of triterpenoidal saponins from the fruit of Siraitia grosvenorii Swingle; they are intensely sweet and have consequently been used as a substitute for sugar by the food industry. The lack of efficient methods to produce specific mogrosides has hindered investigation of the relationship between their structure and bioactivity, e.g., down-regulation of blood glucose levels, anti-inflammation, and antiviral infection. Here, we attempt to selectively convert the major saponin mogroside V, a mogrol pentaglucoside, into mogroside III E, a triglucoside, via the β-glucosidases of the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We report that the β-glucopyranosyl and β-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-d-glucopyranosyl attached on C-3 and -24 of mogrol, respectively, were resistant to hydrolysis by yeast β-d-glucosidases. We further screened 16 mutants bearing single defective glucanase or glucosidase genes, thereby demonstrating that Exg1 is a major enzyme of the initiation of mogroside V conversion. Deletion of the KRE6 gene unexpectedly facilitated the production of mogroside III E in yeast culture. This paper demonstrates that yeast knockout mutants are a valuable tool for saponin modification and for studying the specificity of glucosidase function.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biotechnology / methods
  • Cellulases / genetics
  • Cellulases / metabolism
  • Cucurbitaceae / chemistry*
  • Gene Knockout Techniques
  • Hydrolysis
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Molecular Structure
  • Mutation
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / metabolism
  • Saponins / chemistry
  • Saponins / metabolism
  • Triterpenes / chemistry
  • Triterpenes / metabolism*

Substances

  • KRE6 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • Saponins
  • Triterpenes
  • mogroside V
  • Cellulases