Abstract
Carapichea ipecacuanha produces various emetine-type alkaloids, known as ipecac alkaloids, which have long been used as expectorants, emetics, and amebicides. In this study, we isolated an O-methyltransferase cDNA from this medicinal plant. The encoded protein (CiOMT1) showed 98% sequence identity to IpeOMT2, which catalyzes the 7'-O-methylation of 7'-O-demethylcephaeline to form cephaeline at the penultimate step of emetine biosynthesis (Nomura and Kutchan, J. Biol. Chem., 285, 7722-7738 (2010)). Recombinant CiOMT1 showed both 7'-O-methylation and 6'-O-methylation activities at the last two steps of emetine biosynthesis. This indicates that small differences in amino acid residues are responsible for distinct regional methylation specificities between IpeOMT2 and CiOMT1, and that CiOMT1 might contribute to two sequential O-methylation steps from 7'-O-demethylcephaeline to emetine.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
