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ZIMMERMANN, Würzburg EDITED IN COLLABORATION WITH THE INSTITUTES OF T HE MAX-PLANCK-GESELLSCHAFT Volume 42 c 1987 VERLAG DER ZEITSCHRIFT FÜR NATURFORSCHUNG TÜBINGEN Anschrift des Verlages: Postfach 26 45, D-7400 Tübingen Satz und Druck: Allgäuer Zeitungsverlag GmbH, Kempten Nachdruck — auch auszugsweise — nur mit schriftlicher Genehmigung des Verlages Section a Physics, Physical Chemistry, Cosmic Physics Section b Inorganic and Organic Chemistry Contents V Contents of Number 4 Original Communications Stereochemistry and Mechanism of Reactions Cata lyzed by Tyrosine Phenol-Lyase from Escherichia intermedia M. M. PALCIC, S.-J. SHEN, E. SCHLEICHER, H. KUMAGAI, S. SAWADA, H. YAMADA, and H. G. FLOSS 307 Distant Precursors of Benzylisoquinoline Alkaloids and Their Enzymatic Formation M. RUEFFER and M. H. ZENK 319 Characterization of 2ß(R)-17-0-Acetylajmalan: J Acetylesterase — a Specific Enzyme Involved in the Biosynthesis of the Rauwolfia Alkaloid Ajma- line L. POLZ, H. SCHÜBEL, and J. STÖCKIGT 333 Induction and Characterization of a NADPH-De- pendent Flavone Synthase from Cell Cultures of Soybean G. KOCHS and H. GRISEBACH 343 Proposal for the Mechanism of Action of Urocanase. Inference from the Inhibition by 2-Methyluroca- nate E. GERLINGER and J. RETEY 349 Re-Investigation of the Protein Structure of Co enzyme B -Dependent Diol Dehydrase 12 K. TANIZAWA, N. NAKAJIMA, T. TORAYA, H. TANA- KA, and K. SODA 353 VI Contents Methanogenesis from Acetate by Methanosarcina Functional Group Recognition of Pheromone Mole barkeri: Catalysis of Acetate Formation from cules by Sensory Cells of Antheraea polyphemus Methyl Iodide, C0, and H by the Enzyme Sys and Antheraea pernyi (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) 2 2 tem Involved H. J. BESTMANN, W. CAI-HONG, B. DÖHLA, LI- K. LAUFER, B. EIKMANNS, U. FRIMMER, and R. K. KEDONG, and K. E. KAISSLING 435 THAUER 360 Building Blocks for Oligonucleotide Syntheses with Divergent Evolution of 5S rRNA Genes in Methano- Uniformly Fragmentable ß-Halogenated Protect coccus ing Groups (In German) G. WICH, L. SIBOLD, and A. BÖCK 373 P. LEMMEN, R. KARL, I. UGI, N. BALGOBIN, and J. Characterization of Some Claviceps Strains Derived CHATTOPADHYAYA 442 from Regenerated Protoplasts Experiments on the Optical Resolution of Condur- B. SCHUMANN, W. MAIER, and D. GRÖGER 381 amine Analogs by Enzymatic Transesterification Phenylalanine and Tyrosine Biosynthesis in Spore- in Organic Solvents (In German) forming Members of the Order Actinomycetales G. KRESZE and M. SABUNI 446 H. -K. HUND, B. KELLER, and F. LINGENS 387 Steric Course of the Rhodium-Catalyzed Decarbony- lation of Chiral 4-Methyl-[l-3H,2-2H]pentanal E. coli Maltodextrin Phosphorylase: Primary Struc 1 ture and Deletion Mapping of the C-Terminal Site H. OTSUKA and H. G. FLOSS 449 D. PALM, R. GOERL, G. WEIDINGER, R. ZEIER, B. Synthesis of Immobilized Peptide Fragments on FISCHER, and R. SCHINZEL 394 Polystyrene-Polyoxyethylene for Affinity Chro Fermentation of D-Xylose to Ethanol by Bacillus matography (In German) macerans E. BAYER, H. HELLSTERN, and H. ECKSTEIN 455 H.-J. SCHEPERS, ST. BRINGER-MEYER, and H. SAHM 401 Biopterin Synthesis in Mouse Spleen during Bone Marrow Transplantation Correlates with Unim Semicontinuous and Continuous Production of Citric paired Hemopoietic Engraftment Acid with Immobilized Cells of Aspergillus niger I. ZIEGLER and ST. THIERFELDER 461 H. EIKMEIER and H. J. REHM 408 In vivo Screening of Glutathione Related Detoxifica Microbial Hydroxylation of Cedrol and Cedrene tion Products in the Early State of Drug Devel W.-R. ABRAHAM, P. WASHAUSEN, and K. opment KIESLICH 414 A. PROX, J. SCHMID, J. NICKL, and G. ENGEL HARDT 465 6-Methylpurine, 6-Methyl-9-ß-D-ribofuranosylpu- rine, and 6-Hydroxymethyl-9-ß-D-ribofuranosyl- Synthesis and Complexing Features of an Artificial purine as Antiviral Metabolites of Collybia Receptor for Biogenic Amines (In German) maculata (Basidiomycetes) F. P. SCHMIDTCHEN 476 K. LEONHARDT, T. ANKE, E. HILLEN-MASKE, and Metabolism of the Herbicide 2-(2,4-Dichloro- W. STEGLICH 420 phenoxy)-propionic Acid (Dichlorprop) in Barley Enzymatic Synthesis of Riboflavin and FMN Specifi (Hordeum vulgare) cally Labeled with 13C in the Xylene Ring G. BÄRENWALD, B. SCHNEIDER, and H.-R. H. SEDLMAIER, F. MÜLLER, P. J. KELLER, and A. SCHÜTTE 486 BACHER 425 Site Directed Antisera to the D-2 Polypeptide Sub- A Vitamin D Steroid Hormone in the Calcinogenic unit of Photosystem II 3 Grass Trisetum flavescens R. GEIGER, R. J. BERZBORN, B. DEPKA, W. OETT- W. A. RAMBECK, H. WEISER, and H. ZUCKER 430 MEIER, and A. TREBST 491 Distant Precursors of Benzylisoquinoline Alkaloids and their Enzymatic Formation Martina Rueffer and Meinhart H. Zenk Lehrstuhl für Pharmazeutische Biologie, Universität München, Karlstraße 29, D-8000 München 2, Bundesrepublik Deutschland Z. Naturforsch. 42c, 319-332 (1987); received October 30, 1986 Dedicated to Professor Helmut Simon on the occasion of his 60th birthday Berberis Species, Suspension Cultures, Cell-Free Systems, Benzylisoquinoline Alkaloids, Enzymes of Tyrosine Metabolism The incorporation rates of labelled tyrosine, DOPA, tyramine, and dopamine have been inves tigated during the in vivo formation of the protoberberine alkaloid, jatrorrhizine, in callus cul tures of Berberis canadensis. While tyrosine was equally well incorporated into both the iso- quinoline (54%) and benzyl (46%) portions of the alkaloid, DOPA was almost exclusively (91%) transformed into the isoquinoline moiety. However, tyramine (25%) and to a lesser extent, dopamine (15%) were incorporated into the aldehyde-derived, benzylic half of the isoquinoline molecule as well. In order to investigate further the precursory roles of these compounds, select enzymes involved in tyrosine metabolism in alkaloid-producing cell cultures have been studied. The occurrence of tyrosine decarboxylase, phenolase, transaminase, p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate decarboxylase, amineoxidase and methionine adenosyl transferase was demonstrated in suspen sion cells of Berberis. These enzymes were partially purified and a preliminary characterization was performed. In the light of these and previous data, the differential metabolism of tyrosine and DOPA in the early steps of isoquinoline alkaloid biosynthesis is discussed. Conclusive evidence as to the biosynthetic origin of the phenylacetaldehydes which furnish the benzylic moiety of the alkaloids is precluded by the presence of both amineoxidase and phenylpyruvate decarboxylase activities in these cultures. Introduction amino acid is metabolized solely via decarboxylation to dopamine, which is in turn incorporated almost In 1910 Winterstein and Trier [1] suggested that exclusively into the upper isoquinoline portion of the two molecules of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine benzylisoquinoline alkaloids [3]. While the forma (DOPA) may be modified in the plant to yield tion of the isoquinoline part of the molecules in ques dopamine and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde. tion seems to be clear, there is considerable confu These could subsequently condense to yield nor- sion concerning the origin of the lower benzylic part. laudanosoline, already considered as a potential pre Reports [4] that DOPA is also incorporated via 3,4- cursor for more complex isoquinoline alkaloids, L- dihydroxyphenylpyruvic acid into the "lower" por Tyrosine is an immediate precursor of L-DOPA and tion and postulation of norlaudanosolinecarboxylic numerous reports [see 2] have appeared demonstra acid as an intermediate, which was apparently ex ting the incorporation of this primary amino acid into perimentally supported by three other research benzylisoquinoline-derived alkaloids. Chemical de groups [5—7], were refuted by in vivo [3] and in vitro gradation of the benzylisoquinoline skeleton, which [8, 9] experiments. Holland et al [3] investigated the has been labelled by application of specifically label incorporation of DL-[3-14C]DOPA into 6 different led tyrosine, demonstrated in numerous cases that isoquinoline alkaloids in 3 different plant species. In two molecules of tyrosine form the isoquinoline all cases incorporation was found predominantly "upper" and benzylic "lower" portion of these com (93-99%) in the isoquinoline half of the target al pounds [2. 3]. In contrast, feeding experiments using kaloid. We [8, 9], on the other hand, discovered a specifically labelled DOPA demonstrated that this specific enzyme which, in a stereospecific manner, Abbreviations: DOPA, 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylalanine; condenses dopamine with 3,4-dihydroxy- and 4-hy- SAM, S-Adenosylmethionine. droxyphenylacetaldehyde to yield (S)-norlaudanoso- Reprint requests to Dr. M. Rueffer. line and norcoclaurine respectively, ruling out the above postulated norlaudanosolinecarboxylic acid as Verlag der Zeitschrift für Naturforschung, D-7400 Tübingen 0341-0382/87/0400-0319 S 01.30/0 an obligatory intermediate. 320 M. Rueffer and M. H. Zenk • Distant Precursors of Benzylisoquinoline Alkaloids This present study was therefore undertaken to Chemicals further clarify the true nature of the distant precur Tyrosine, tyramine, DOPA, and dopamine were sors in the formation of the benzylisoquinoline sys purchased from Fluka (Neu-Ulm),/?-hydroxyphenyl- tem. This investigation was conducted in a dual man pyruvate from Sigma (München). All biochemicals ner, using callus and suspension cultures of Berberis, were obtained from Boehringer (Mannheim). Pal- which are known to produce large amounts of pro- matine was a kind gift of Prof. N. Nagakura (Kobe). toberberine alkaloids of the jatrorrhizine type [10]. The following chromatography gels were used: Firstly, the incorporation of distant potential precur Sephadex G-25 and QAE-Sephadex (Pharmacia, sors into the protoberberine alkaloids was checked. Uppsala), DEAE-Matrex™Cellufine (Amicon, Wit- The advantage is that considerably higher rates of ten), TSK-HW 55S (Merck, Darmstadt), Hydroxyl- incorporation of precursors can be achieved with the apatite (Bio-Rad, Richmond). TLC-Plates (Silica callus system as compared to intact plants. Secondly, 60-Polygram sheets and Cellulose MN 300) were ob the enzymes of the tyrosine metabolic pathway were tained from Macherey and Nagel (Düren). Rotiszint investigated in protoberberine producing cell suspen 22 (Roth, Karlsruhe) and Quickszint 2000 (Zinsser, sion cultures to gain an insight into the formation of Frankfurt) were used as scintillation cocktails. All dopamine and the hydroxylated phenylacetalde- other chemicals and solvents were purchased from hydes, the known precursors of the benzylisoquino- Merck (Darmstadt) or Roth (Karlsruhe). lines. As already pointed out by Spenser [2], every known isoquinoline alkaloid contains one or more Radiochemicals methyl or methylenedioxy groups. Both entities are derived from the S-methyl group of methionine. The The following radiochemicals were purchased surprisingly specific O- and N-methyltransferases in from Amersham-Buchler (Braunschweig): [U-14C]ty- volved in the later steps of benzylisoquinoline mod rosine (58 uCi/umol), [14COOH]tyrosine (58 uCi/ ification have become increasingly known [11]. In an umol), [7-14C]tyramine (56 |iCi/urnol), [7-14C]dop- attempt to study the distant precursors of the iso amine (54 uCi/urnol), [3-14C]DOPA (10.9 uCi/urnol), quinoline alkaloids, we also included the enzyme re [2,3-3H]tyrosine (16 mCi/urnol), [l-14CH3]meth- sponsible for the synthesis of S-adenosylmethionine ionine (50 jiCi/umol), [S-C3H3]methionine (70 mCi/ (SAM) from L-methionine and ATP. umol). [Ring-3H]tyramine (29.8 mCi/urnol) was obtained from NEN (Dreieichenhain). By using both of the approaches depicted above — precursor feeding and enzyme studies — it was hoped [14COOH]-/?-Hydroxyphenylpyruvate was synthe to gain an insight into the nature of the true precur sized by incubating [14COOH]tyrosine (5 uCi; sors and the enzymes involved in the formation of 0.5 umol) in 0.1 M KP042" buffer, pH 7.2, contain the building blocks of the benzylisoquinoline system. ing 1 mg catalase (beef liver, Boehringer, Mann heim; 6000 units) and 30 u.g L-amino acid oxidase (Crotalus durissus, Boehringer, 0.2 units) in a total volume of 400 ul. After incubation for 4 h at 30 °C Materials and Methods the mixture was acidified with 0.2 N HCl and ex Plant material tracted 5 times with 2 ml ethylacetate. The keto acid was recovered from the organic phase and subse Callus and suspension cells of Berberidaceae, quently purified by TLC (Polygram) with the solvent Papaveraceae, Menispermaceae and control species system: benzene: dioxane : acetic acid = 90:25:4 (R: have been maintained in this laboratory for the past { 0.4). The yield of purified p-hydroxyphenylpyruvic 12 years. The calli were grown on LS-medium [12] acid under these conditions was 85%. solidified with agar (1%). The suspended cells were cultivated in 2.5 1 Fernbach flasks in a volume of TLC-Systems 1000 ml LS-medium on a gyratory shaker (100 rpm) in diffuse light (750 lux) at 24 °C and were subcul- The following solvent systems were used with Sili tured at weekly intervals using about 10% inoculum ca 60-Polygram sheets: ethylacetate: methylethyl- (v/v). The cells were harvested immediately after ketone: formic acid: water = 50:30:10:10 (jatror reaching the stationary phase, frozen in liquid nitro rhizine, R: 0.80); chloroform: methanol: ammo f gen and stored at -20 °C. nia = 68:18:0.6 (palmatine, R: 0.52); chloroform: ( M. Rueffer and M. H. Zenk • Distant Precursors of Benzylisoquinoline Alkaloids 321 methanol = 95:5 (corydaldine, Rf 0.73); benzol: (d). The aqueous phase was basified with 15% acetic acid =8:2 (2,3-dimethoxyphthalic acid, Rf NaOH and extracted with chloroform. The organic 0.51); /i-butanol:acetic acid:water = 4:1:5 (upper layer was concentrated and chromatographed, phase) (tyramine, Rf 0.43; dopamine, Rf 0.22); resulting in the upper isoquinoline portion of the chloroform:ethylacetate = 8:2 (4-hydroxyphenyl- alkaloid, 6,7-dimethyl-l,2,3,4-tetrahydro-l-iso- acetaldehyde, Rf 0.70; 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetal- quinoline = corydaline (17%). MS: 207 (M+, 100), dehyde, Rf 0.63). For separation on Cellulose MN 178, 150, 135; NMR (CDC1): 290 (m), 3.48 (m), 390 3 300 plates the solvent system: n-butanol:acetic acid: (s), 6.65 (s), 7.56 (s). water = 4:1:5 (upper phase) (tyrosine, Rf 0.29; At each stage of purification the specific activity of tyramine, Rf 0.53; DOPA, Rf 0.24; dopamine, Rf the products was determined. 0.38) was used. Enzyme assays Feeding procedure 1. Tyrosine decarboxylase The labelled precursor (50 uJ, 2.5 uCi, 0.05 umol) The assay system consisted of 62.5 nmol L- was applied to a vigorously growing 14 day old callus [,4COOH]tyrosine (2.5 x 104 cpm) and 50 nmol py- culture of Berberis canadensis. The callus was al ridoxalphosphate in 1.6 x 10~3 M KP02" buffer pH lowed to metabolize for 5 days at 24 °C in the dark. 4 6.5, and enzyme in a total volume of 300 ul, incu Thereafter the callus was harvested quantitatively bated in an Eppendorf vial for 1 h at 30 °C. The and the major alkaloid, jatrorrhizine, was isolated Eppendorf vial was then placed into a scintillation and subsequently analyzed. vial containing 0.2 ml hyamine (Zinsser, Frankfurt) and subsequently sealed with a rubber stopper. The Degradation of jatrorrhizine reaction was terminated by addition of 50 uJ of a Callus tissue (approx. 0.3 g dwt) was extracted 0.2 N perchloric acid solution which was injected into with MeOH (2x20 ml). The extract was concen the Eppendorf vial. The evolving 14C0 was ab trated and chromatographed on Polygram Silica 2 sorbed by the hyamine solution during a period of plates (0.25 mm; Macherey and Nagel, Düren) 1 h and the Eppendorf vial was subsequently using the solvent system ethylacetate: methylethyl- discarded. Scintillator (Quickszint 2000; Zinsser, ketone:formic acid:water = 50:30:10:10 (jatror Frankfurt) was added and the sample was counted. rhizine, Rf 0.8). The alkaloid was eluted and methyl The recovery rate of this assay was tested with label ated with dimethyl sulfate/acetonitrile. The resulting led Na14C0 and averaged 90%. Protein contents palmatine was appropriately diluted with carrier al 2 3 were determined by the method of Bradford [13] kaloid (average: total of 30 umol) and chromato using bovine serum albumin as standard. graphed with chloroform: methanol: NHOH = 4 68:18:0.6 as solvent (palmatine, Rf 0.5). The eluted 2. Phenolase palmatine was reduced with NaBH in MeOH, the 4 solvent evaporated and the residue taken up in H0 [Ring-3H]tyramine 10 nmol (2xl03 cpm), ascor- 2 and extracted with ethylacetate. The organic layer bate 50 umol, KP042~ buffer 50 umol and enzyme (up to 1 mg protein) were incubated in a total vol was concentrated in vacuo and taken up in 2 ml 10% ume of 300 ul for 1 h at 30 °C and the reaction termi HS0. The acidic solution was cooled in an ice water 2 4 nated by the addition of 300 ul charcoal suspension bath and 5 mg KMn0 dissolved in 1 ml H0 were 4 2 (10 g/100 ml; dextran coated). The mixture was cen- slowly added while stirring. After 2 h the mixture trifuged for 5 min (Eppendorf system) and an aliquot was acidified to pH 3 and extracted with ethylace of 300 ul of the aqueous phase containing tritiated tate. This procedure yielded the lower benzylic por water was removed for liquid scintillation counting. tion of the alkaloid as 2,3-dimethoxyphthalic acid (10% yield). TLC of the product in benzene: glacial acetic acid = 8:2 (Rf. 0.5) and treatment with 3. Transaminase diazomethane yielded the methylated product. MS [2',3'-3H]Tyrosine or DOPA (synthesized from (m/z) 254 (M+), 223 (100), 207, 191 and NMR tyrosine by phenolase) 250 nmol (104 cpm) were (CDC1): 3.95 (s), 405 (s), 7.15-7.19 (d), 7.51-7.55 incubated in the presence of pyridoxalphosphate 3 322 M. Rueffer and M. H. Zenk • Distant Precursors of Benzylisoquinoline Alkaloids 750 nmol, a-ketoglutarate 750 nmol and enzyme (up (15 min). The supernatant was saturated to 70% to 2 mg protein) in a total volume of 300 ul. The (NH)S0 and centrifuged again. The pellet was re- 42 4 mixture was incubated for 1 h at 30 °C, the reaction suspended in 10 mM KP02" buffer at pH 7.5 and 4 terminated by addition of charcoal, and monitored as separated from most of the phenols and alkaloids above. by passage through a Sephadex G-25 column (70 x 2.5 cm: 90 ml/h, elution buffer: 10 mM KP02~ 4 4. p-Hydroxyphenylpyruvate decarboxylase pH 7.5). The protein containing eluates were com bined (63 ml) and concentrated by pressure filtration In 300 ul, the assay system contained [I4COOH]- (YM10; Amicon, Witten) to 20 ml. The protein so p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate 25 nmol (104 cpm), thia lution was applied to a QAE-ion exchange column mine pyrophosphate 50 nmol, MgCl 100 nmol, 2 (10x2.5cm; Pharmacia, Freiburg; 30 ml/h) and phosphate buffer 66 (mmol (pH 7.0) and enzyme (up eluted with a 0—1 M KCl gradient in suspension buf to 1 mg protein). This mixture was incubated in an fer. Fractions with a 3.5 ml volume were collected Eppendorf vial for 1 h at 30 °C. The liberated 14C0 2 and those containing the enzyme (no's 67—76) were was assayed as in the case of the tyrosine decarboxyl pooled and used as an enzyme source. ase. b) Phenolase 5. Amineoxidase A pressure filtrate from Berberis stolonifera cells In a total volume of 300 ul [ring-3H]tyramine was prepared as described under a). The concentrate 10 nmol (1.2 x 104 cpm) in 50 \IM KP02" buffer and 4 (20 ml) was added to a hydroxylapatite column (Bio- protein (up to 1 mg) were incubated for 40 min at Rad, Richmond; 1 x 10 ml, flow rate 20 ml/h). The 30 °C. The reaction was terminated by the addition phenolase does not bind to the column material of 0.1 ml IN HCl and the mixture extracted with under these conditions and was eluted with the wash 400 ul isoamyl alcohol (30 min). After centrifugation ings (30 ml, 10 mM phosphate buffer, pH 7.5). This (3 min) a 200 ul aliquot of the organic phase was fraction was added to a DEAE column (Amicon- counted (Rotiszint; Roth, Karlsruhe) in order to de Matrex™Cellufine-AH) where it was again eluted termine the presence of any transformed [3H]-/?-hy- with the washings (35 ml). The protein solution was droxyphenylacetaldehyde. concentrated (ultra filtration) and used as an enzyme source. 6. ATP: L-Methionine-S-Adenosyltransferase The assay system contained in a total volume of c) Transaminase 150 5 [Amol KCl, 5 umol MgCl, 20 umol Tris- 2 Frozen tissue of the species under investigation buffer, pH 8.5, 1 umol ATP, 10 nmol [S- was thawed with stirring in 50 mM Na-pyrophosphate C3H]methionine (60000 cpm) and up to 0.5 mg pro 3 buffer pH 7.0 containing 10~4 M thiamine pyrophos tein. The reaction (1 h at 37 °C) was terminated by phate and 10~4 M MgCl. An equal amount of poly the addition of 50 ul aliquots of the incubation mix 2 vinylpyrrolidone (Polyclar AT) was added. After ture onto 1 cm2 pieces of filter paper (Whatman-P81 20 min the slurry was filtered through cheesecloth phosphocellulose). These were dried with a heat and centrifuged for 10 min (15000Xg). The super gun, washed in a Buchner-funnel with 4 1 water, and natant was saturated with (NH)S0 (to 709b) and placed into scintillation vials containing 5 ml Quick- 42 4 the precipitated protein sedimented. The pellet was szint 2000 (Zinsser). This method was modified after resuspended in a small amount of extraction buffer the procedure of Markham [14]. and used as an enzyme source. Enzyme purification d) p-Hydroxyphenylpyruvate decarboxylase a) Tyrosine decarboxylase Frozen tissue of Berberis stolonifera was extracted Frozen cells of Berberis stolonifera (150 g) were as given for tyrosine decarboxylase, however, all buf thawed under stirring in 0.1 M KPO2- buffer pH 7.5 fers used contained 20 mM ß-mercaptoethancl. The containing 20 mM ß-mercaptoethanol. After 20 min eluate from the Sephadex G-25 column was immedi the suspension was centrifuged at 12000 xg ately applied to a DEAE-column (15 x 2.5 cm. Ami-
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