• BMB Reports
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.625-635
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• 2007

The enzyme squalene synthase (EC 2.5.1.21) catalyzes a reductive dimerization of two farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) molecules into squalene, a key precursor for the sterol and triterpene biosynthesis. A full-length cDNA encoding squalene synthase (designated as TcSqS) was isolated from Taxus cuspidata, a kind of important medicinal plants producing potent anti-cancer drug, taxol. The full-length cDNA of TcSqS was 1765 bp and contained a 1230 bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding a polypeptide of 409 amino acids. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that the deduced TcSqS protein had high similarity with other plant squalene synthases and a predicted crystal structure similar to other class I isoprenoid biosynthetic enzymes. Southern blot analysis revealed that there was one copy of TcSqS gene in the genome of T. cuspidata. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis and northern blotting analysis showed that TcSqS expressed constitutively in all tested tissues, with the highest expression in roots. The promoter region of TcSqS was also isolated by genomic walking and analysis showed that several cis-acting elements were present in the promoter region. The results of treatment experiments by different signaling components including methyl-jasmonate, salicylic acid and gibberellin revealed that the TcSqS expression level of treated cells had a prominent diversity to that of control, which was consistent with the prediction results of TcSqS promoter region in the PlantCARE database.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.1335-1344
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• 2021

Ginsenoside Compound K is a triterpene saponin found in the leafs, stems and roots of Panax ginseng. This study aimed to prepare a valuable ginsenoside Compound K using ginseng extracts with the enzyme(Plantase). Plantase showed very efficient activity to produce Compound K from ginseng extracts. Plantase exhibited the highest activity at pH 5 and 50 ℃, as a result of investigating the yield of Compound K by changing the temperature and pH, while fixing the enzyme concentration to 10% or 15% over 48 hours of reaction time. Under optimium conditions, Plantase produced and accumulated Compound K over 35 wt% of whole ginseng extracts. Antimicrobial activitiy of bioconvertied ginseng extracts showed selectivity against Cutibacterium acnes KCTC 3314. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of bioconverted ginseng extract (35% of Compound K enriched extract) against Cutibacterium acnes KCTC 3314 strain is 31.25ug/mL. These results suggest that the Compound K enriched extract is potential materials for cosmetic products and Plantase is a very useful enzyme for Compound K production.