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Functional characterization of the β-amyrin synthase gene involved in platycoside biosynthesis in Platycodon grandiflorum

Horticulture, Environment, and Biotechnology volume 58, pages 613–619 (2017)Cite this article

Abstract

Platycodon grandiflorum A. DC. contains a variety of triterpene saponins induced from the base structure of oleanane-type in roots. The β-amyrin synthase (bAS) plays an important role in controlling the biosynthesis of triterpene saponins and we obtained the full-length cDNA of the gene, which is named PlgOSC1 in P. grandiflorum. To identify the PlgOSC1 products, we expressed it in heterologous yeast cells. Results of GC-MS analysis showed a unique peak that was consistent with that of the authentic β-amyrin standard with exactly the same retention time. Furthermore, the pattern of MS fragments of the peak was also exactly the same as that of the β-amyrin. In qRT-PCR analysis of four organs of P. grandiflorum, no difference in PlgOSC1 expression level was observed; therefore, platycosides derived from β-amyrin might be present in all P. grandiflorum tissues. In conclusion, PlgOSC1 encodes a bAS enzyme that catalyzes the first committed step of platycosides biosynthesis in P. grandiflorum.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Herbal Crop Research, National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, RDA, Eumseong, 27709, Republic of Korea

    Yurry Um, Mei Lan Jin, Dae Young Lee & Ok Tae Kim

  2. Genomics Division, National Academy of Agricultural Science (NAAS), RDA, Jeonju, 54874, Republic of Korea

    Chang Kug Kim

  3. Theragen Etex Bio Institute, Theragen Etex, Suwon, 16229, Republic of Korea

    Chang Pyo Hong

  4. Department of Industrial Plant Science and Technology, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, 28644, Republic of Korea

    Yi Lee

Authors
  1. Yurry Um
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  2. Mei Lan Jin
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  3. Dae Young Lee
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  4. Chang Kug Kim
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  5. Chang Pyo Hong
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  6. Yi Lee
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  7. Ok Tae Kim
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Correspondence to Ok Tae Kim.

Electronic supplementary material

Supplementary Table 1.

Accession data for the OSCs used in the phylogenetic analyses.

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Um, Y., Jin, M.L., Lee, D.Y. et al. Functional characterization of the β-amyrin synthase gene involved in platycoside biosynthesis in Platycodon grandiflorum. Hortic. Environ. Biotechnol. 58, 613–619 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13580-017-0054-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13580-017-0054-z

Additional key words

  • beta-amyrin synthase
  • oxidosqualene cyclase
  • platycosides
  • triterpenoids