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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Plant polyketide synthases: a chalcone synthase-type enzyme which performs a condensation reaction with methylmalonyl-CoA in the biosynthesis of C-methylated chalcones.

Heterologous screening of a cDNA library from Pinusstrobus seedlings identified clones for two chalcone synthase (CHS) related proteins (PStrCHS1 and PStrCHS2, 87.6% identity). Heterologous expression in Escherichia coli showed that PStrCHS1 performed the typical CHS reaction, that it used starter CoA-esters from the phenylpropanoid pathway, and that it performed three condensation reactions with malonyl-CoA, followed by the ring closure to the chalcone. PstrCHS2 was completely inactive with these starters and also with linear CoA-esters. Activity was detected only with a diketide derivative (N-acetylcysteamine thioester of 3-oxo-5-phenylpent-4-enoic acid) that corresponded to the CHS reaction intermediate postulated after the first condensation reaction. PstrCHS2 performed only one condensation, with 6-styryl-4-hydroxy-2-pyrone derivatives as release products. The enzyme preferred methylmalonyl-CoA against malonyl-CoA, if only methylmalonyl-CoA was available. These properties and a comparison with the CHS from Pinus sylvestris suggested for PstrCHS2 a special function in the biosynthesis of secondary products. In contrast to P. sylvestris, P. strobus contains C-methylated chalcone derivatives, and the methyl group is at the position predicted from a chain extension with methylmalonyl-CoA in the second condensation of the biosynthetic reaction sequence. We propose that PstrCHS2 specifically contributes the condensing reaction with methylmalonyl-CoA to yield a methylated triketide intermediate. We discuss a model that the biosynthesis of C-methylated chalcones represents the simplest example of a modular polyketide synthase.

Acyl Coenzyme A↗

Antitumorigenic activities of chalcones (II). Photo-isomerization of chalcones and the correlation with their biological activities.

Some chalcones are known to be phototransformed in a solution from trans into cis isomers. 3-Hydroxy-3'-methylchalcone (3'Me-3-C) has been found to be isomerized from trans into cis by irradiation of daylight in the methanolic solution. The presence of a hydroxyl in the 2'- or 4-position in the trans-chalcone structure prevents phototransformation into cis isomers. The feasibility of phototransformation of chalcones was discussed using UV-spectral analysis. The phototransformed cis-3'Me-3-C showed more potent antitumorigenic activity than the original trans form. The generally recognized parallelism between antitumorigenic and antiinflammatory activities was not observed in trans and cis 3'-Me- and 4'-Me-3C, which are antitumorigenic but inactive in 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA)- and arachidonic acid (AA)-induced mouse ear edema. However, inhibitory activity against ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) was commonly observed in both naturally occurring and synthetic antitumorigenic chalcones.

Animals↗

Isolation of chalcone synthase and chalcone isomerase cDNAs from alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.): highest transcript levels occur in young roots and root tips.

Flavonoids are involved in several different interactions between plants and microorganisms. In the Rhizobium-legume symbiosis, they play an important role as inducers of rhizobial nodulation (nod) genes. We have identified from an alfalfa cDNA library four clones for chalcone synthase (CHS) and two clones for chalcone isomerase (CHI); CHS and CHI are key enzymes in flavonoid biosynthesis. In Medicago sp., CHS is encoded by 8-12 genes, and CHI is encoded by 1-2 genes. Here we report the DNA sequence of these clones as well as their relatedness to other legume CHS and CHI clones. In addition, we report on the expression patterns of two CHS gene family members as well as the CHI gene in M. sativa cv. Iroquois. While CHS and CHI transcript levels are high in root tips and entire young roots, they are low in effective nodules elicited by wild-type strains of Rhizobium meliloti and very low in aerial portions of the plant (stems, leaves, flowers). However, wounding the cotyledons results in a rapid increase in transcript levels of both chalcone synthase and chalcone isomerase genes in these organs.

Acyltransferases↗

Antitumorigenic activities of chalcones. I. Inhibitory effects of chalcone derivatives on 32Pi-incorporation into phospholipids of HeLa cells promoted by 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol 13-acetate (TPA).

More than forty chalcone derivatives were synthesized to examine their structure-activity relationship against tumorigenesis. As a primary screening test, the inhibitory activities of the chalcones for the 32Pi-incorporation into phospholipids of HeLa cells enhanced by 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol 13-acetate (TPA) were examined. 3-Hydroxy-chalcone derivatives possessing methyl group in 3'-, 4'-, or 2'-position and isoliquiritigenin homologs showed potent inhibitory activities in the phosphorylation test, which suggests their antitumorigenic effects.

Animals↗

Anticancer activities of novel chalcone and bis-chalcone derivatives.

A series of novel chalcones and bis-chalcones containing boronic acid moieties has been synthesized and evaluated for antitumor activity against the human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 (estrogen receptor-negative) and MCF7 (estrogen receptor-positive) cell lines and against two normal breast epithelial cell lines, MCF-10A and MCF-12A. These molecules inhibited the growth of the human breast cancer cell lines at low micromolar to nanomolar concentrations, with five of them (1-4, 9) showing preferential inhibition of the human breast cancer cell lines. Furthermore, bis-chalcone 8 exhibited a more potent inhibition of colon cancer cells expressing wild-type p53 than of an isogenic cell line that was p53-null.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Reaction mechanisms of homodimeric plant polyketide synthase (stilbenes and chalcone synthase). A single active site for the condensing reaction is sufficient for synthesis of stilbenes, chalcones, and 6'-deoxychalcones.

Stilbene (STS) and chalcone (CHS) synthases are homodimeric, related plant-specific polyketide synthases. Both perform a sequential condensation of three acetate units to a starter residue to form a tetraketide intermediate that is folded to the ring systems specific to the different products. Protein cross-linking and site-directed mutagenesis identified a subunit contact site in position 158, close to the active site (Cys169). This suggested that the active site pockets may be neighboring, possibly alternating in the condensing reactions rather than acting independently. This was investigated by coexpression of active site mutants with differently mutated, inactive proteins. With both STS and CHS, the heterodimers synthesized the end products, indicating that each subunit performed all three condensations. In co-action with a monomeric reductase, CHS also synthesizes 6'-deoxychalcone, but with the chalcone as second product when using plant preparations. The two enzymes expressed as single species in Escherichia coli synthesized both products, and both were also obtained with a CHS heterodimer containing a single active site. The results showed that 6'-deoxychalcone synthesis required no other plant factor and that the formation of two products may be an intrinsic property of the interaction between dimeric CHS and monomeric reductase.

Acyltransferases↗

Expression of chalcone synthase and chalcone isomerase proteins in Arabidopsis seedlings.

Antibodies have been developed against the first two enzymes of flavonoid biosynthesis in Arabidopsis thaliana. Chalcone synthase (CHS) and chalcone isomerase (CHI) were overexpressed and purified from Escherichia coli as fusion proteins with glutathione S-transferase from Schistosoma japonicum. The recombinant proteins were then used to immunize chickens and the resulting IgY fraction was purified from egg yolks. Immunoblots of crude protein extracts from Arabidopsis seedlings carrying wild-type and null alleles for CHS and CHI showed that the resulting antibody preparations provide useful tools for characterizing expression of the flavonoid pathway at the protein level. An initial analysis of expression patterns in seedlings shows that CHS and CHI proteins are present at high levels during a brief period of early seedling germination that just precedes the transient accumulation of flavonoid end-products.

Acyltransferases↗

Analysis of flavanone 3-hydroxylase in Arabidopsis seedlings. Coordinate regulation with chalcone synthase and chalcone isomerase.

A genomic clone encoding flavanone 3-hydroxylase (F3H) was isolated from Arabidopsis thaliana. The deduced amino acid sequence is 72 to 94% identical to all previously reported F3H proteins. Low-stringency DNA blot analysis indicated that F3H is encoded by a single gene in Arabidopsis. The F3H locus was mapped to the bottom of chromosome 3 and therefore does not correspond to any of the 13 flavonoid-deficient transparent testa mutants for which a map position is known. Analysis of gene expression in etiolated seedlings exposed to white light and in two putative regulatory mutants, ttg and tt8, demonstrated that the Arabidopsis F3H gene is coordinately expressed with chalcone synthase and chalcone isomerases is seedlings, whereas dihydroflavonol reductase expression is controlled by distinct regulatory mechanisms. The F3H gene may represent a pivotal point in the regulation of flavonoid biosynthesis because its expression is coordinated with different subsets of genes in different plant species.

Arabidopsis↗

A study on CYP1A inhibitory action of E-2-(4'-methoxybenzylidene)-1-benzosuberone and some related chalcones and cyclic chalcone analogues.

In vivo investigation of E-2-(4'-methoxybenzylidene)-1-benzosuberone (4a) on the 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced onco/tumor suppressor gene expressions suggested that inhibition of metabolic activation of DMBA might play a role in the observed activity of the compound. In order to explore this possible biological action we have investigated whether 4a and some of its structurally related analogues had inhibitory effects on the CYP1A enzymes. During our study 7-ethoxyresorufin O-dealkylation activity of CYP1A isoenzymes was measured in liver microsomes prepared from 3-methylcholanthrene treated male rats. Inhibition constants (K(i) values) were determined by using different concentrations of 7-ethoxyresorufin and the investigated chalcones (1), E-2-benzylidene-1-indanones (2), -tetralones (3) and -benzosuberones (4). Each compound was found to be a strong competitive inhibitor of the CYP1A enzymes. Their inhibitory activity was comparable with or even higher than that of 7,8-benzoflavone, the known strong CYP1A inhibitor used as reference substance. By proper selection of the substituents on the benzylidene moiety we investigated how the inhibitory activity (K(i) value) of 1-4 varied as a function of the ring size (n=0, 5, 6, 7) carbon atoms, and the nature as well as the position of the substituents. To test applicability of the previously set structural requirements for binding of xenobiotics to the CYP1A enzymes we compared some topological, physico-chemical and quantum mechanical parameters of 1-4 with 7-ethoxyresorufin and 7,8-benzoflavone, the investigated CYP1A substrate and inhibitor, respectively.

Animals↗

In situ localization of light-induced chalcone synthase mRNA, chalcone synthase, and flavonoid end products in epidermal cells of parsley leaves.

Methods involving in situ RNA hybridization, immunohistochemistry, and microspectrophotometry of individual cells were used to localize the mRNA encoding chalcone synthase (the key enzyme of flavonoid biosynthesis), the enzyme protein, and the biosynthetic end products in cross sections of parsley leaves (Petroselinum crispum). The light-dependent, sequential occurrence of all three components was restricted to epidermal cells. The results are in agreement with the putative function of flavonoids (transcriptionally inducible, UV-protective pigments) and suggest that all biosynthetic steps occur in those cells in which the products accumulate.

Journal Article↗

Structural elucidation of chalcone reductase and implications for deoxychalcone biosynthesis.

4,2',4',6'-Tetrahydroxychalcone (chalcone) and 4,2',4'-trihydroxychalcone (deoxychalcone) serve as precursors of ecologically important flavonoids and isoflavonoids. Deoxychalcone formation depends on chalcone synthase and chalcone reductase; however, the identity of the chalcone reductase substrate out of the possible substrates formed during the multistep reaction catalyzed by chalcone synthase remains experimentally elusive. We report here the three-dimensional structure of alfalfa chalcone reductase bound to the NADP+ cofactor and propose the identity and binding mode of its substrate, namely the non-aromatized coumaryl-trione intermediate of the chalcone synthase-catalyzed cyclization of the fully extended coumaryl-tetraketide thioester intermediate. In the absence of a ternary complex, the quality of the refined NADP+-bound chalcone reductase structure serves as a template for computer-assisted docking to evaluate the likelihood of possible substrates. Interestingly, chalcone reductase adopts the three-dimensional structure of the aldo/keto reductase superfamily. The aldo/keto reductase fold is structurally distinct from all known ketoreductases of fatty acid biosynthesis, which instead belong to the short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase superfamily. The results presented here provide structural support for convergent functional evolution of these two ketoreductases that share similar roles in the biosynthesis of fatty acids/polyketides. In addition, the chalcone reductase structure represents the first protein structure of a member of the aldo/ketoreductase 4 family. Therefore, the chalcone reductase structure serves as a template for the homology modeling of other aldo/keto-reductase 4 family members, including the reductase involved in morphine biosynthesis, namely codeinone reductase.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases↗

Bacteriostatic action of synthetic polyhydroxylated chalcones against Escherichia coli.

In previous work the bacteriostatic action of trihydroxylated chalcones against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25 923 was investigated. In this work the action of 2',4',2-(OH)3-chalcone, 2',4',3-(OH)3-chalcone and 2',4',4-(OH)3-chalcone against Escherichia coli ATCC 25 922 was evaluated. Growth kinetic curves of E. coli were made in nutritive broth added with increasing drug concentrations. The specific growth rates of the microorganisms were calculated by a kinetic turbidimetric method, which was previously probed and the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC's) were evaluated by a mechanism of action proposed. The MICs of 2',4',3-(OH)3-chalcone and 2',4',2-(OH)3-chalcone were 46 microg/ml and 122 microg/ml, respectively. The 2',4',4-(OH)3-chalcone was inactive. The MIC value of 2',4',3-(OH)3-chalcone (46 microg/ml), more active than 2',3-(OH)2-chalcone (72.2 microg/ml) may be due to the introduction of an electron donating group (-OH) at position 4' in the aromatic A-ring, which activates the region that includes the 2'-hydroxyl neighbor group and the alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl group.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗