Characterization of CYP82 genes involved in the biosynthesis of structurally diverse benzylisoquinoline alkaloids in Corydalis yanhusuo.

Abstract

Benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs) represent a significant class of secondary metabolites with crucial roles in plant physiologyand substantial potential for clinical applications. CYP82 genes are involved in the formation and modification of various BIA skeletons, contributing to the structural diversity of compounds. In this study, Corydalis yanhusuo, a traditional Chinese medicine rich in BIAs, was investigated to identify the catalytic function of CYP82s during BIA formation. Specifically, 20 CyCYP82-encoding genes were cloned, and their functions were identified in vitro. Tenof these CyCYP82s were observed to catalyze hydroxylation, leading to the formation of protopine and benzophenanthridine scaffolds. Furthermore, the correlation between BIA accumulation and the expression ofCyCYP82s in different tissues of C. yanhusuo wasassessed their. The identification andcharacterization of CyCYP82s provide novel genetic elementsthatcan advance the synthetic biology of BIA compounds such as protopine and benzophenanthridine, and offer insights into the biosynthesis of BIAs with diverse structures in C. yanhusuo.