Medicinal terpenoid UDP-glycosyltransferases in plants: recent advances and research strategies

J Exp Bot. 2023 Mar 13;74(5):1343-1357. doi: 10.1093/jxb/erac505.

Abstract

Terpenoid glycosides have significant curative effects on many kinds of diseases. Most of these compounds are derived from medicinal plants. Glycosylation is a key step in the biosynthesis of medicinal terpenoids. In plants, UDP-dependent glycosyltransferases comprise a large family of enzymes that catalyze the transfer of sugars from donor to acceptor to form various bioactive glycosides. In recent years, numerous terpenoid UDP-glycosyltransferases (UGTs) have been cloned and characterized in medicinal plants. We review the typical characteristics and evolution of terpenoid-related UGTs in plants and summarize the advances and research strategies of terpenoid UGTs in medicinal plants over the past 20 years. We provide a reference for the study of glycosylation of terpenoid skeletons and the biosynthetic pathways for medicinal terpenoids in plants.

Keywords: Biosynthesis; UDP-glycosyltransferases; glycosylation; pharmaceutical terpenoids; plants; research strategies.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Glycosides
  • Glycosyltransferases* / genetics
  • Glycosyltransferases* / metabolism
  • Plants / metabolism
  • Research Design
  • Terpenes* / metabolism
  • Uridine Diphosphate / metabolism

Substances

  • Glycosyltransferases
  • Terpenes
  • Uridine Diphosphate
  • Glycosides