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Effects of over-expressing the AgGPPS2 gene in Salvia stenophylla (Burch. ex Benth) on terpenoid biosynthesis

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Plant secondary compounds have been exploited as medicines, flavourants, incense
and are widely used for different culinary purposes. Efficacy of herbal remedies is
determined by the phytochemical profile which is dependent on the species, locality
and growth conditions. Salvia stenophylla (Burch. ex Benth.) is a local aromatic sage
growing in almost all South African biomes, with the volatile compound accumulation
varying depending on season, locality and genotype. Salvia stenophylla extracts
have proven anti-inflammatory, anti-plasmodial, anti-oxidant and anti-anxiety
properties due to the presence of essential oils, flavonoids and caffeic acid derived
phytochemicals. As a result, S. stenophylla extracts are increasingly being used for
the formulation of pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical products. However, these
industries largely depend on the wild populations for raw materials, and increased
commercialization of sage-based natural products and medicine exerts harvesting
pressure. This might reduce the sustainability of herbal medicines since there is no
formal cultivation of S. stenophylla in South Africa. Medicinal plant biotechnology
provides options for propagation and manipulation of herbal plant to increase
synthesis of secondary compounds. The aims of this study were to develop tissue
culture propagation system so as to provide an alternative to wild-harvesting, to
improve essential oil quality and accumulation in S. stenophylla by applying third
generation biotechnological tools to alter terpene biosynthesis via heterologous gene
expression aided by Agrobacterium-gene transfer and to charaterize the resultant
metabolite profiles using thin layer chromatography, gas chromatography mass
spectrometry and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. Initially, seeds were
germinated in-vitro on one-tenth Murashige and Skoog medium (MS) (1962). Seeds
were decontaminated by washing them in 3.5% (w/v) hypochloride and were either scarified using 70% (v/v) sulphuric acid, placed on media with smoke solution or
both. Both scarification and smoke supplementation induced germination, but seeds
subjected to both treatments, as a combination, showed very poor germination.
Seedlings produced were used to establish an efficient tissue culture system for S.
stenophylla. Shoot tips, nodal and basal explants were placed on MS media with
different plant growth regulator (PGR) combinations and concentrations. The best
plantlet regeneration and shoot elongation were observed on plants on medium supplemented with 5.7 μM indole acetic acid (IAA) and 8.9 μM N-6-benzyladenine (BA), producing 4-6 shoots per explant with 6.67 cm mean length. Treatment with
4.5 μM 2,4 dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4 D) did not produce shoots but had the
highest biomass production, which was all in the form of callus. The resultant shoots
from the micropropation system had similar metabolites as wild type plant and also
they had some compounds that were not detected in their wild type counterparts.
The effects of nitrogen, potassium, water stress, and phytohormones on metabolite
accumulation were also studied in a S. stenophylla microplant system. Plant growth
regulator free half strength MS medium encouraged the most prolific growth.
Increasing potassium and nitrogen concentrations correlated to the accumulation of
(-)-α-bisabolol whilst changes in other major compounds like ß-bisabolene, α-muurolene, α-patchoulene, and D-limonene were insignificant. To investigate the
effects of water stress on metabolite accumulation and profile, water stress was
induced using sorbitol and polyethyl glycol. Reduced water availability only
negatively affected rooting in-vitro whilst the chemical profile was not affected. The
study also focused on terpene production in S. stenophylla by over-expressing the
heterologous geranyl diphosphate synthase gene (AgGPPS2) from Abies grandis,
using Agrobacterium tumefaciens (EHA105). The AgGPPS2 gene was ligated to a
pCAMBIA1301 vector which was cloned in EHA105 and this in turn was used to
transform S. stenophylla. Resultant transgenic plantlets exhibited normal growth
characteristics but showed variation in the metabolite accumulation. GC-MS analysis
showed a 6% increase in (-)-α-bisabolol accumulation whilst 3-δ-carene, α-pinene
and camphor were lowered. Solvent extracts were analysed using LC-MS and these had rosmarinic acid in greater abundance in transgenic than in the wild type plants.
However, the chemical profiles of the wild type and transgenic plants showed some
similarities suggesting AgGPPS2 expression only alters the abundance of some
secondary compounds, whilst the overall integrity of the metabolome is maintained.
Unlike most metabolite engineering studies elsewhere, this is the first attempt a local
South African sage has been genetically engineered to enhance terpene
biosynthesis. This is crucial in an economy that is increasing becoming plant based
for pharmaceutical, industrial and food needs. Further studies are required to
elucidate the efficacy of transgenic and in-vitro plant-derived extracts. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Plant sekondêre produkte word gebruik as medisinale-, geur-en reukmiddels en
word ook as algemene bestandeel gebruik in kookkuns. Die doeltreffendheid van
kruie middels word bepaal deur die fitochemiese profiel. Hierdie profiel is afhanklik
van die spesie, ligging en groei kondisies. Salvia stenophylla (Burch. ex Benth.) is ‘n
plaaslike aromatiese salie wat voorkom in byna al die biome van Suid-Afrika , waar
die versameling van vlugtige verbindings varieer op grond van die seisoen, ligging
en genotipe. Salvia stenophylla ekstraksies is bewys om anti-inflamatories, antiplasmodiaal,
anti-oksidant en anti-angs eienskappe te besit as gevolg van die
noodsaaklike olies, flavonoïede en afgeleide kaffieksuur fitochemikalieë wat die plant
besit. As gevolg word S. stenophylla ekstraksies meer en meer aangewend in die
ontwikkeling van farmaseutiese en kosmetiese produkte. Hierdie industrieë benodig
rou plant material vanuit die natuurlike populasies wat druk op die biome sit as
gevolg van die verhoogde kommersialisering van salie-gebaseerde natuurlike
produkte en medisyne. Gevolglik is die volhoubaarheid van medisyne afkomstig
vanaf kruie soos salie in bedwang omdat geen formele kultivasie van S. stenophylla
in Suid-Afrika al in plek gestel is nie. Medisinale plant biotegnologie bied
moontlikhede vir kultiveering, voortplanting en manipuleering van kruie om sodoende
die produksie van sekondêre verbindings in kruie te verhoog. Die doel van hierdie
studie was om ‘n weefselkultuur voortplantingssisteem te ontwikkel om sodoende ‘n
alternatief te bied vir wild oesting. Die studie het gefokus op die verbetering van
noodsaaklike olie kwaliteit en akkumulasie in S. stenophylla deur die gebruik van
derde generasie biotegnologiese gereedskap om terpeen biosintese te modifiseer.
Hierdie is bereik deur weefselkultuur en heterologiese geen uitdrukking wat
aangehelp is deur Agrobacterium geen oordrag. Die gevolglike metaboliet profiele was gekarakteriseer deur gebruik te maak van dun laag chromatogragie, gas
chromatografie massa spektrometrie en vloeistof chromatografie massa
spektrometrie. Aanvanklik is die sade ontkiem in-vitro op een-tiende Murashige en
Skoog medium (MS) (1962). Dekontaminasie van die sade is gedoen deur die sade
te was in 3.5% (w/v) hipochloried waarna die sade óf geskarifideer is deur te was
met 70% (v/v) swawelsuur óf op medium geplaas is wat ‘n rook oplossing bevat óf
albei. Beide skarifikasie en rook aanvulling het ontkieming aangehelp, maar sade wat aan albei behandelings blootgestel is, het baie swak ontkieming getoon.
Saailinge was gebruik om ‘n effektiewe weefselkultuursisteem vir S. stenophylla te
produseer. Stingel punte, nodale en basale eksplante was op MS medium geplaas
met verskillende kombinasies en konsentrasies van verskeie plant groei
reguleerders (PGR). Die beste plant regenerasie en stingel verlenging was
geobserveer met plante op medium aangevul met 5.7 μM indool asynsuur (IAS) en
8.9 μM N-6-bensieladenien (BA), waar dit 4 tot 6 stingels per plant met ‘n
gemiddelde lengte van 6.67 cm gegroei het. Behandeling met 2,4
Dichlorophenoksiasynsuur (2,4 D) het nie stingels produseer nie, maar het die
hoogste biomassa produksie getoon in die vorm van kallus. Die gevolglike stingels
van die mikrovoortplantingsisteem het soortgelyke metaboliete as die wilde tipe
plante, maar verbindings wat nie in die wilde tipe plante voorkom nie was ook
ontdek. Die effek van stikstof, kalium, water stres en fitohormone op metaboliet
akkumulasie was ook bestudeer in S. stenophylla mikroplantsisteem. Plant groei
reguleerder vrye half sterkte MS medium het die produktiefste groei aangemoedig.
Verhoging van kalium en stikstof konsentrasies het gekorreleer met die versameling van (-)-α-bisabolol en terwyl veranderinge in ander belangrike verbindings soos ß-bisaboleen, α-muuroleen, α -patchouleen en D-limoneen onbeduidend was. Om die effek van water stres op metaboliet- akkumulasie en -profiel te ondersoek was water
stres geinduseer deur sorbitol en poli-etielglikol te gebruik. Die verlaging van water
beskikbaarheid het slegs ‘n negatiewe invloed op in-vitro wortelvorming gehad terwyl
die chemiese profiel onveranderd gebly het. Die studie het ook gefokus op die
terpeen produksie in S. stenophylla deur die ooruitdrukking van die heterologiese
geranieldifosfaatsintase geen (AgGPPS2) vanaf Abies grandis met behulp van
Agrobacterium tumefaciens (EHA105). Die AgGPPS2 geen was geligeer in ‘n
pCAMVIA1301 vektor wat geklooneer was in EHA105 en dit op sy beurt was
getransformeer in S. stenophylla. Die gevolglike transgeniese plante het normale
groei ten toongestel, maar het variase in metaboliet akkumulasie getoon. GC-MS
analises het gewys dat ‘n 6% toename in (-)-α-bisabolol versameling terwyl 3-δ-kareen, α-pineen en kamfor verlaag het. Opgelosde ekstraksies was geanaliseer deur VC-MS en het gewys dat roosmariensuur in groter hoeveelhede in transgeniese
plante as wilde tipe plante akkumuleer. Nogtans het die chemiese profiele van die
twee genotipes sommige ooreenkomste getoon, wat voorstel dat AgGPPS2 uitdrukking slegs sekere sekondêre verbindings menigte male vermeerder terwyl die
algehele integriteit van die metaboloom gehoue bly. In teenstelling met die
meederheid studies oor metaboliet ingenieuring wat elders plaasvind, is hierdie die
eerste poging om ‘n plaalike Suid-Afrikaanse salie genieties te ingenieur met die oog
om die terpeen biosintese te verbeter. Hiedie is krities in ‘n ekonomie wat
voortdurend vorder om plant gebaseerde produkte te maak vir farmaseuties,
industrieël en voedsel behoeftes. Verdere studies is nodig om helderheid te gee oor
die effektiewiteit van transgeniese en in-vitro plant afkomstige ekstraksies.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/79830
Date03 1900
CreatorsMusarurwa, Hannibal Tafadzwa
ContributorsMakunga, Nokwanda P., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Science. Dept. of Botany and Zoology.
PublisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
Languageen_ZA
Detected LanguageUnknown
TypeThesis
Formatxxvi, 196 p. : ill.
RightsStellenbosch University

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