1
Return

Functional characterization of a novel flavonoid glycosyltransferase UGT89AD6 from Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge and mechanistic insights into its enzymatic O-glycosylation

delete2026-07-30
delete0
PRE
AI
张倩 (Qian Zhang)
Q
Qiongyu Ye
李广丽 cover
李广丽 (Guangli Li)
X
Xiaoyun Wang
Y
Yidu Chen
Z
Zishu Dong
Q
Qimeng Fan
Z
Zhixin Li
L
Liangshan Ming
H
Hongning Liu *
J
Jia Huang *
DOI:10.1007/s00425-026-05109-5delete
deleteOriginal
deleteOriginal request for help
deleteShare
deleteSave
Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
UGT89AD6 is a versatile O-glycosyltransferase with broad substrate and sugar donor promiscuity, offering a valuable biocatalyst for flavonoid glycoside synthesis. Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge, known as a famous monocotyledonous medicinal plant in China, contains a typically important secondary metabolite icariside I with various pharmacological activities. In A. asphodeloides, icariside I is derived from the O-glycosylation of icaritin. However, the O-glycosyltransferase from A. asphodeloides catalyzing the glycosylation of icaritin remains largely unidentified. Herein, a promiscuous O-glycosyltransferase UGT89AD6 from A. asphodeloides was successfully identified and characterized. It exhibited catalytic activity toward icaritin, thereby forming the glycosylated product icariside I. It also showed broad glycosylation activities toward other structurally diverse substrates, including eight other flavonoid compounds and an anthraquinone scaffold. Furthermore, it could accept four UDP-sugars as the donors; the preference order was UDP-Xyl > UDP-Glc > UDP-Rha > UDP-Ara. Structural analysis indicated that the broad O-glycosylation activities of UGT89AD6 could be linked to the unique spacious substrate binding pocket. Beyond this, the regioselectivity of UGT89AD6 might be shaped by hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen-bonding network, as well as shallow cavity of the binding pocket. This study contributes to the diversity of glycosyltransferases from monocotyledonous plants and provides a potential biocatalyst to synthesize high-value bioactive flavonoid glycosides.
Keywords:
Biosynthesis
Flavonoid glycosides
Glycosylation
Plant enzymology
Substrate promiscuity

Journal

Planta cover
Planta
IF:
3.8
Papers:
7.1K
Citations:
2.3W

Organization

D
department of biology
Scholars:
2.5K
Papers: 1.2K
Citations: 2
S
School of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Scholars:
1.4K
Papers: 466
Citations: 4
Cited Papers

Cited Papers

Citing Papers

Citing Papers