UGT84F9 is the major flavonoid UDP-glucuronosyltransferase in Medicago truncatula

Olubu A. Adiji, Maite L. Docampo-Palacios, Anislay Alvarez-Hernandez, Giulio M. Pasinetti, Xiaoqiang Wang, Richard A. Dixon

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Mammalian phase II metabolism of dietary plant flavonoid compounds generally involves substitution with glucuronic acid. In contrast, flavonoids mainly exist as glucose conjugates in plants, and few plant UDP-glucuronosyltransferase enzymes have been identified to date. In the model legume Medicago truncatula, the major flavonoid compounds in the aerial parts of the plant are glucuronides of the flavones apigenin and luteolin. Here we show that the M. truncatula glycosyltransferase UGT84F9 is a bi-functional glucosyl/glucuronosyl transferase in vitro, with activity against a wide range of flavonoid acceptor molecules including flavones. However, analysis of metabolite profiles in leaves and roots of M. truncatula ugt84f9 loss of function mutants revealed that the enzyme is essential for formation of flavonoid glucuronides, but not most flavonoid glucosides, in planta. We discuss the use of plant UGATs for the semi-synthesis of flavonoid phase II metabolites for clinical studies.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1617-1637
Number of pages21
JournalPlant Physiology
Volume185
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2021

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