The knowledge gained provides scientists with a new set of genetic tools they can manipulate to control aromatic production. The experimental work was primarily conducted by postdoctoral researcher Xianhai Zhao under Liu's guidance. Those studies helped us verify the contributions of individual electron donors and transport chains in supporting P450 activity." "Then, in yeast cells, we re-assembled different electron transport chains in combination with plant P450 enzymes to mimic the reactions in plants. "By knocking out these genes, we were able to determine the contributions of distinct electron donors, identifying which ones drive the production of different aromatics in different parts of the plant," Liu said. The scientists made these discoveries by analyzing the aromatic compounds that accumulated in different parts of plants in which the genes for different electron donors had been selectively deleted. Moreover, the researchers found that the same P450 enzyme can make use of distinct electron donors and electron transport chains in different parts of a plant-stems, leaves, and seeds-to produce different classes of aromatics. But the new study shows that different P450s selectively partner with different electron donors (and electron transport chains) to drive their activities. These electrons act as a power source to fuel the machine," Liu explained.Ĭonventionally, scientists thought that the P450s primarily interact with a general electron donor called cytochrome P450 reductase to produce a variety of aromatic compounds. "To make P450 machines run, they need partner molecules to deliver electrons. ![]() Scientists have long known that P450 enzymes do not work alone to determine the structural and biological features of aromatic compounds. The work could help facilitate long-term carbon storage and the carbon-neutral utilization of plant biomass for energy applications, improve plants' nutritional properties, or increase their resistance to disease and harsh environmental conditions. Uncovering the complexity of how these enzymes are regulated provides a new set of genetic tools scientists can use to precisely control which compounds get produced in different parts of a plant. "These enzymes operate as a synthetic machine to produce a wide range of aromatic compounds in plants-including compounds that build plants' waterproof skeleton and vasculature, and others that provide defense from insect invasions and ultraviolet (UV) radiation." "Our study reveals the long-overlooked complexity and versatility of a key set of enzymes known as cytochrome P450 monooxygenases," said study lead author Chang-Jun Liu of Brookhaven Lab's biology department. The research, just published in the journal Science Advances, suggests new strategies for controlling plant biochemistry for agricultural and industrial applications. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory have discovered a new level of regulation in the biochemical "machinery" that plants use to convert organic carbon derived from photosynthesis into a range of ring-shaped aromatic molecules. (In both images the red signal comes from chlorophyl.). In this case the scientists attached half of the GFP tag to each of these proteins the fluorescent glow occurs only when the two halves come together as the proteins interact. ![]() Right: A GFP-labeled complex of the P450 enzyme interacting with the electron donor. Left: Localization of a GFP-labeled electron donor protein along the endoplasmic reticulum (inner network of membranes) in leaf cells. In addition to performing genetic and biochemical studies, the scientists used a green fluorescent protein (GFP) "tag" and microscope facilities at Brookhaven Lab's Center for Functional Nanomaterials to visualize the proteins they were studying in leaf cells.
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