Team:TU Munich/Project/Limonene

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Revision as of 23:45, 25 September 2012

Contents

Limonene

Responsible: Lara Kuntz and Andrea Richter

Limonene is a cyclic terpene and a major constituent of several citrus oils. D-Limonene is used as a component of flavorings and fragrances since it has an orange/lemon-like odor. Limonene has been shown to inhibit rat mammary and other tumor development (Tsuda et al. 2004). Being an excellent solvent of cholesterol, d-limonene also has been used clinically to dissolve cholesterol-containing gallstones. Because of its gastric acid neutralizing effect and its support of normal peristalsis, it has also been used for relief of heartburn http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18072821 Sun, 2007.

Producing the flavoring substance limonene in our beer might result in a fresh, lemon-like taste on the one hand. On the other hand, we might have beneficial effects on health such as preventive activity against cancer, dissolution of gallstones and relief of heartburn.


Background and principles

Limonene is a cyclic terpene and a major constituent of several citrus oils (orange, lemon, mandarin, lime and grapefruit). It is a chiral liquid with the molecular mass of 136.24 g/mol. The (R)-enantiomer smells like oranges and is content of many fruits, while the (S)-enantionmer has a piney odor http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11605760 Fietzek, 2001. Therefore D-Limonene ((+)-Limonene, (R)-enantiomer) is used as a component of flavorings and fragrances.

Biosynthesis

Limonene is produced by limonene synthase which uses geranyl pyrophosphate (GPP) as educt which is the universal precursor of monoterpenoids. (+)-limonene synthase from Citrus limon consists of 606 aminoacids (EC=4.2.3.20) and catalyzes the following reaction: Geranyl pyrophosphate = (+)-(4R)-limonene + diphosphate.

Fig. 1: Reaction catalyzed by limonene synthase.Source?

Saccharomyces cerevisiae produces geranyl pyrophosphate via the mevalonate pathway where it occurs exclusively as an intermediate of farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP) synthesis http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17096665 Oswald et al., 2007. It has been established that S. cerevisiae has enough free GPP to be used by exogenous monoterpene synthases to produce monoterpenes under laboratory and vinification conditions [[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18155949 Herrero et al., 2008], [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17096665 Oswald et al., 2007]].


Fig. 2: Simplified isoprenoid pathway in S. cerevisiae, including the branch point to linalool. Abbreviations: HMG-CoA, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A; IPP, isopentenyl pyrophosphate; GPP, geranyl pyrophosphate; FPP, farnesyl pyrophosphate; DMAPP, dimethylallyl pyrophosphate; HMGR, HMG-CoA reductase; FPPS, FPP synthase; LIS, linalool synthase. [Rico et al., 2010]

The molecular and physiological effects of limonene

Limonene is listed in the Code of Federal Regulations as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Food/FoodIngredientsPackaging/GenerallyRecognizedasSafeGRAS/GRASListings/UCM264589.pdf FDA for a flavoring agent and does not pose a mutagenic, carcinogenic, or nephrotoxic risk to humans. Today it can be found in common food items such as fruit juices, soft drinks, baked goods, ice cream, and pudding http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18072821 Sun, 2007. As natural compound of Plants Limonene has practical advantages with regard to availability, suitability for oral apllication, regulatory approval and mechanisms of action. It has been shown to inhibit rat mammary and other tumor development by Apoptosis induction and modulation of oncogene signal transduction http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=Tsuda limonene 2004 Tsuda, 2004. Furthermore It is used as excellent solvent of cholesterol, therefore d-limonene has been used clinically to dissolve cholesterol-containing gallstones. Because of its gastric acid neutralizing effect and its support of normal peristalsis, it also has been used for relief of heartburn http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18072821 Sun, 2007.

Results

BioBricks

[http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K801060 BBa_K801060]

RFC 25 compatible

Further information:

  • [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nucleotide/21435702 NCBI]
  • UniProt entry:
  • E.C. Number:
  • Origin of the enzyme: Citrus limon

[http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K801061 BBa_K801061]

RFC 25 compatible

Further information:

  • [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nucleotide/21435702 NCBI]
  • UniProt entry:
  • E.C. Number:
  • Origin of the enzyme: Citrus limon


[http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K801062 BBa_K801062]

RFC 25 compatible

Further information:

  • [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nucleotide/21435702 NCBI]
  • UniProt entry:
  • E.C. Number:
  • Origin of the enzyme: Citrus limon


[http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K801063 BBa_K801063]

RFC 25 compatible

Further information:

  • [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nucleotide/21435702 NCBI]
  • UniProt entry:
  • E.C. Number:
  • Origin of the enzyme: Citrus limon


[http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K801064 BBa_K801064]

RFC 25 compatible

Further information:

  • [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nucleotide/21435702 NCBI]
  • UniProt entry:
  • E.C. Number:
  • Origin of the enzyme: Citrus limon


[http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K801065 BBa_K801065]

RFC 25 compatible

Further information:

  • [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nucleotide/21435702 NCBI]
  • UniProt entry:
  • E.C. Number:
  • Origin of the enzyme: Citrus limon


[http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K801066 BBa_K801066]

RFC 25 compatible

Further information:

  • [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nucleotide/21435702 NCBI]
  • UniProt entry:
  • E.C. Number:
  • Origin of the enzyme: Citrus limon

Characterization

Gel Picture of finished construct


SDS Page of Limonene Synthase


InVitro detection of limonene

To test functionality of purified Limonenesynthase in vitro we used an optimized protocol of an Enzyme Assay with previous Extraction of [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17662687 Landmann et al, 2007]. The Enzyme Assay was carried out in Tris-HCl buffer with Glycerol, DTT and Cofactors. An identified amount of substrate (geranyl pyrophosphate) and purified recombinant limonene synthase. The mixture was extracted with pentane, dried with Sodiumsulfate and reduced under a stream of nitrogen. The pentane extracts were analyzed with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry ("5890 Series II GC" coupled to a "Finnigan Mat 55 S MS") to identify the enzymatically synthesized products.


InVivo detection of limonene

Because Limonene is volatile, [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21310602 [Misawa, 2011]] we expected an arbitrarily amount of Limonene outside the cells in the supernatant. To verify this predication we could detect Limonene via Headspace (SPME needle) GC-MS in the yeast cell culture supernatant.

Bildbeschreibung


Toxicity Assay

To establish whether limonene has an effect on yeast cells , we inoculated three different yeast strains with different concentrations of limonene. Limonene was added to the medium and the used yeast strains were the laboratory strain INVSc1, a strain which is used for brewing beer and a strain which can be purchased in a supermarket.

Limonene at high concentrations affects the growth of yeast cells. We could show an inhibition of growth at 1 mM and even a lethal effect at 100 mM. At lower concentrations (1 µM, 10 µM, 100 µM) no inhibition could be observed. The growth rates of yeast cells which were incubated with low concentrations of limonene do not show a difference compared to the negative control (incubation with YPD without limonene).

The in vivo GCMS detection of limonene [B] displayed a concentration of 50 µM. Hence the amount of limonene we will produce with the modified yeast will not reach a toxic concentration at all.


Evaluation of the Toxicity Assay for Limonene.

References

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