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Biosynthesis and biotechnological production of serotonin derivatives

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Abstract

Serotonin derivatives belong to a class of phenylpropanoid amides found at low levels in a wide range of plant species. Representative serotonin derivatives include feruloylserotonin (FS) and 4-coumaroylserotonin (CS). Since the first identification of serotonin derivatives in safflower seeds, their occurrence, biological significance, and pharmacological properties have been reported. Recently, serotonin N-hydroxycinnamoyl transferase (SHT), which is responsible for the synthesis of serotonin derivatives, was cloned from pepper (Capsicum annuum) and characterized in terms of its enzyme kinetics. Using the SHT gene, many attempts have been made to either increase the level of serotonin derivatives in transgenic plants or produce serotonin derivatives de novo in microbes by dual expression of key genes such as SHT and 4-coumarate-CoA ligase (4CL). Due to the strong antioxidant activity and other therapeutic properties of serotonin derivatives, these compounds may have high potential in treatment and prophylaxis, as cosmetic ingredients, and as major components of functional foods or feeds that have health-improving effects. This review examines the biosynthesis of serotonin derivatives, corresponding enzymes, heterologous production in plants or microbes, and their applications.

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Acknowledgments

Thanks are expressed to Prof. A. Ishihara of the Graduate School of Kyoto University (Kyoto, Japan) for technical support. This work was supported by the Technology Development Program for Agriculture and Forestry, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, and by the SRC program of MOST/KOSEF, through the Agricultural Plant Stress Research Center (R11-2001-092-05001-0).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural Plant Stress Research Center, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 500-757, Republic of Korea

    Kiyoon Kang, Young Soon Kim & Kyoungwhan Back

  2. Interdisciplinary Program for Bioenergy and Biomaterials of Graduate School, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 500-757, Korea

    Sangkyu Park

  3. Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA

    Sungbeom Lee

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  1. Kiyoon Kang
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  2. Sangkyu Park
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Correspondence to Kyoungwhan Back.

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Kang, K., Park, S., Kim, Y.S. et al. Biosynthesis and biotechnological production of serotonin derivatives. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 83, 27–34 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-009-1956-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-009-1956-1

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