Flavonoids are among the most ubiquitous phenolic compounds found in nature. These compounds have diverse physiological and pharmacological activities such as estrogenic, antitumor, antimicrobial, antiallergic, and anti-inflammatory effects. They are well-known antioxidants and metal ion-chelators. In the present review, biotransformations of numerous flavonoids catalyzed mainly by microbes and few plant enzymes are described in four different flavonoid classes, viz., chalcones, isoflavones, catechins, and flavones. Both phase I (oxidative) and phase II (conjugative) biotransformations representing a variety of reactions including condensation, cyclization, hydroxylation, dehydroxylation, alkylation, O-dealkylation, halogenation, dehydrogenation, double-bond reduction, carbonyl reduction, glycosylation, sulfation, dimerization, or different types of ring degradations are elaborated here. In some cases, the observed microbial transformations mimic mammalian and/or plant metabolism. This review recognizes Norman Farnsworth, who through his fascination and hard work in pharmacognosy has fostered the excitement of discovery by numerous students and faculty far and beyond the halls of the University of Illinois at Chicago. It is with grateful thanks for these efforts that we dedicate this review to him.
The molecular basis of the ability of bacteria to live on caffeine via the C-8 oxidation pathway is unknown. The first step of this pathway, caffeine to trimethyluric acid (TMU), has been attributed to poorly characterized caffeine oxidases and a novel quinone-dependent caffeine dehydrogenase. Here, we report the detailed characterization of the second enzyme, a novel NADHdependent trimethyluric acid monooxygenase (TmuM), a flavoprotein that catalyzes the conversion of TMU to 1,3,7-trimethyl-5-hydroxyisourate (TM-HIU). This product spontaneously decomposes to racemic 3,6,8-trimethylallantoin (TMA). TmuM prefers trimethyluric acids and, to a lesser extent, dimethyluric acids as substrates, but it exhibits no activity on uric acid. Homology models of TmuM against uric acid oxidase HpxO (which catalyzes uric acid to 5-hydroxyisourate) reveal a much bigger and hydrophobic cavity to accommodate the larger substrates. Genes involved in the caffeine C-8 oxidation pathway are located in a 25.2-kb genomic DNA fragment of CBB1, including cdhABC (coding for caffeine dehydrogenase) and tmuM (coding for TmuM).
Glycolate oxidase (GO; (S)-2-hydroxyacid oxidase, EC 1.1.3.15) is a flavin mononucleotide (FMN)-dependent enzyme, which catalyzes the oxidation of 2-hydroxy carboxylic acids to the corresponding 2-keto acids. Catalase has been used as cocatalyst to decompose hydrogen peroxide produced in the reaction, thus limiting peroxide-based side reactions and GO deactivation. GO from spinach and catalase T from Saccharomyces cerevisiae previously coexpressed in Pichia pastoris strain NRRL Y-21001, was permeabilized and used for the oxidation of 3-phenyllactic acid, 3-indolelactic acid, 3-chlorolactic acid, 2-hydroxybutanoic acid, and 2-hydroxydecanoic acid to demonstrate high degree of selectivity to the (S)-enantiomers, leaving (R)-isomers intact. The rates of oxidation ranged from 1.3 to 120.0%, relative to the oxidation of lactic acid to pyruvic acid. The best substrates were 3-chlorolactic acid (110%) and 2-hydroxybutanoic acid (120%). Oxidation was carried out with (R)-, (S)-, and (RS)-3-phenyllactic acid, (RS)-lactic acid, and (RS)-2-hydroxybutanoic acid in 500 mL scale to characterize the products and stoichiometry of the reaction. All (RS)- and (S)-2-hydroxy acids produced 2-keto acids at close to the theoretical yield in 1-9 h. (R)-3-Phenyllactic acid was not oxidized over a period of 9 h. Addition of exogenous FMN and catalase were not required for this oxidation using double recombinant Pichia pastoris whole cells. As GO is absolutely specific to (S)-enantiomers, it can be used for resolution of racemic 2-hydroxy acids to (R)-2-hydroxy acids as well as for production of 2-keto acids. This is the first report on the selectivity of a broad range of 2-hydroxy acids by GO.
Thirty-six microorganisms were screened for their abilities to transform (+)-catechin to metabolites. Of these, Aspergillus giganteus UI 10, A. ochraceous ATCC 1008, Cylindrocarpon radicicola ATCC 11011, Amycolata autotrophica ATCC 35203, Mycobacterium flavescens ATCC 14474, M. fortuitum UI 53378, Streptomyces rimosus NRRL 2234, S. griseolus ATCC 11796, and S. griseus ATCC 13273, converted (+)-catechin to new products. C. radicicola and S. griseolus were chosen for preparative-scale incubations to produce polar products, which were isolated and characterized by UV, NMR, and mass spectral analyses. The products were new carboxylic acid lactones formed by B-ring fission of catechin. Labeling with 18O2 showed incorporation of two oxygen atoms into the new lactone products. Based on 18O2 labeling, likely pathways for lactone formation involved initial dioxygenase-mediated meta B-ring cleavage followed either by aldehyde oxidation to a diacid that lactonizes, or by hemiacetal (lactal) formation followed by alcohol oxidation. We believe this to be the first example of microbial B-aryl-ring cleavage in catechins.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.