植物三萜皂苷生物合成及关键酶鲨烯合酶的研究进展

Research advances on triterpenoid saponin biosynthesis and it's key-enzyme squalene synthase in plant

三萜皂苷(triterpenoid saponins)是一类重要的植物次生代谢产物,有抗菌和抗虫害的作用,可用作药物,具有重要的商业价值.三萜皂苷含量和组成的变化又取决于三萜皂苷合成途径中的一些关键酶及其在细胞中的表达水平.鲨烯合酶(Squalene syntase,SS)是三萜皂苷生物合成的第一个关键酶,其含量和活性决定了后续产物的产量.因而若能在分子水平上实现对SS的调控,将为人工大量生产三萜皂苷提供可能.全文综述了三萜皂苷的生物合成途径及该途径的关键SS的研究进展.

Triterpenoid saponin is a vital secondary metabolite widely existed in plant. It plays important roles in antibacterial action and insect-resisting. It has important commercial values and can be used as medicine. The constitution and content of triterpenoid saponin is determined by some key-enzymes and their expressing level in triterpenoid saponin biosynthesis pathway. Squalene synthase is the first keyenzyme in triterpenoid saponins biosynthesis. Its quantity and activity determine the output of later products. Thus, if squalene synthase can be operated by man in the level of molecule, it will provide a kind of possibility for massive-produced triterpenoid saponins. In this paper, advances in the study on the biosynthesis pathway of triterpenoid saponin and its key enzyme squalene synthase were summed up and further discussed.