Abstract:
Benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs) are a structurally diverse group of plant metabolites renowned for their pharmacological properties. However, sustainable sources for these compounds remain limited. Consequently, researchers are focusing on elucidating BIA biosynthetic pathways and genes to explore alternative sources using synthetic biology approaches. CYP80B, a family of cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes, plays a crucial role in BIA biosynthesis. Previously reported CYP80Bs are known to catalyze the 3′-hydroxylation of (
S)-
N-methylcoclaurine, with the
N-methyl group essential for catalytic activity. In this study, we successfully cloned a full-length CYP80B gene (
StCYP80B) from
Stephania tetrandra (
S. tetrandra) and identified its function using a yeast heterologous expression system. Both
in vivo yeast feeding and
in vitro enzyme analysis demonstrated that
StCYP80B could catalyze
N-methylcoclaurine and coclaurine into their respective 3′-hydroxylated products. Notably,
StCYP80B exhibited an expanded substrate selectivity compared to previously reported wild-type CYP80Bs, as it did not require an
N-methyl group for hydroxylase activity. Furthermore,
StCYP80B displayed a clear preference for the (
S)-configuration. Co-expression of
StCYP80B with the CYP450 reductases (CPRs,
StCPR1, and
StCPR2), also cloned from
S. tetrandra, significantly enhanced the catalytic activity towards (
S)-coclaurine. Site-directed mutagenesis of
StCYP80B revealed that the residue H205 is crucial for coclaurine catalysis. Additionally,
StCYP80B exhibited tissue-specific expression in plants. This study provides new genetic resources for the biosynthesis of BIAs and further elucidates their synthetic pathway in natural plant systems.