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Triterpene cyclases catalyze the first committed step in triterpene biosynthesis, by forming mono- to pentacyclic backbone structures from oxygenated C30 isoprenoid precursors. Squalene epoxidase precedes this cyclization by providing the oxygenated and activated substrate for triterpene biosynthesis. Three squalene epoxidases from Cucurbita pepo (CpSEs) were isolated and shown to have evolved under purifying selection with signs of sites under positive selection in their N- and C-termini. They all localize to the Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) and produce 2,3-oxidosqualene and 2,3:22,23-dioxidosqualene when expressed in a yeast erg1 (squalene epoxidase) erg7 (lanosterol synthase) double mutant. Co-expression of the CpSEs with four different triterpene cyclases, either transiently in Nicotiana benthamiana or constitutively in yeast, showed that CpSEs boost triterpene production. CpSE2 was the best performing in this regard, which could reflect either increased substrate production or superior channeling of the substrate to the triterpene cyclases. Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (FLIM) analysis with C. pepo cucurbitadienol synthase (CpCPQ) revealed a specific interaction with CpSE2 but not with the other CpSEs. When CpSE2 was transformed into C. pepo hairy root lines, cucurbitacin E production was increased two folds compared to empty vector control lines. This study provides new insight into the importance of SEs in triterpene biosynthesis, suggesting that they may facilitate substrate channeling, and demonstrates that SE overexpression is a new tool for increasing triterpene production in plants and yeast., (Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Lutein is becoming increasingly important in preventive medicine due to its possible role in maintaining good vision and in preventing age-related maculopathy. Average daily lutein intake in developed countries is often below suggested daily consumption levels, and lutein supplementation could be beneficial. Lutein is also valuable in the food and feed industries and is emerging in nutraceutical and pharmaceutical markets. Currently, lutein is obtained at high cost from marigold petals, and synthesis alternatives are thus desirable. Tomato constitutes a promising starting system for production as it naturally accumulates high levels of lycopene. To develop tomato for lutein synthesis, the tomato Red Setter cultivar was transformed with the tomato lycopene ε-cyclase-encoding gene under the control of a constitutive promoter, and the HighDelta (HD) line, characterised by elevated lutein and δ-carotene content in ripe fruits, was selected. HD was crossed to the transgenic HC line and to RS(B) with the aim of converting all residual fruit δ-carotene to lutein. Fruits of both crosses were enriched in lutein and presented unusual carotenoid profiles. The unique genetic background of the crosses used in this study permitted an unprecedented analysis of the role and regulation of the lycopene cyclase enzymes in tomato. A new defined biochemical index, the relative cyclase activity ratio, was used to discern post-transcriptional regulation of cyclases, and will help in the study of carotenoid biosynthesis in photosynthetic plant species and particularly in those, like tomato, that have been domesticated for the production of food, feed or useful by-products., (© 2013 Published by Elsevier Inc.)