Two UGT84 Family Glycosyltransferases Catalyze a Critical Reaction of Hydrolyzable Tannin Biosynthesis in Pomegranate (Punica granatum)

PLoS One. 2016 May 26;11(5):e0156319. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0156319. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

Hydrolyzable tannins (HTs) play important roles in plant herbivore deterrence and promotion of human health. A critical step in HT production is the formation of 1-O-galloyl-β-D-glucopyranoside (β-glucogallin, ester-linked gallic acid and glucose) by a UDP-glucosyltransferase (UGT) activity. We cloned and biochemically characterized four candidate UGTs from pomegranate (Punica granatum), of which only UGT84A23 and UGT84A24 exhibited β-glucogallin forming activities in enzyme assays. Although overexpression and single RNAi knockdown pomegranate hairy root lines of UGT84A23 or UGT84A24 did not lead to obvious alterations in punicalagin (the prevalent HT in pomegranate) accumulation, double knockdown lines of the two UGTs resulted in largely reduced levels of punicalagins and bis-hexahydroxydiphenyl glucose isomers. An unexpected accumulation of galloyl glucosides (ether-linked gallic acid and glucose) was also detected in the double knockdown lines, suggesting that gallic acid was utilized by an unidentified UGT activity for glucoside formation. Transient expression in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves and immunogold labeling in roots of pomegranate seedlings collectively indicated cytosolic localization of UGT84A23 and UGT84A24. Overall, functional characterization and localization of UGT84A23 and UGT84A24 open up opportunities for further understanding the regulatory control of HT metabolism in plants and its coordination with other biochemical pathways in the metabolic network.

MeSH terms

  • Gallic Acid / metabolism*
  • Glycosyltransferases / genetics
  • Glycosyltransferases / metabolism*
  • Hydrolyzable Tannins / metabolism*
  • Lythraceae / genetics
  • Lythraceae / growth & development
  • Lythraceae / metabolism*
  • Phylogeny
  • Plant Extracts / metabolism
  • Plant Roots / metabolism
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / genetics
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / growth & development
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / metabolism*

Substances

  • Hydrolyzable Tannins
  • Plant Extracts
  • glucogallin
  • Gallic Acid
  • punicalagin
  • Glycosyltransferases

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the National Science Foundation (MCB1120323 to LT), the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (NNO), the UC Davis, Department of Plant Sciences Graduate Research Fellowship (NNO and AEW) and the Henry A. Jastro Research Fellowship (NNO and AEW).