Sejong University College of Life Sciences, Elucidation of Biosynthesis Mechanism and Efficacy of Cucurbitacin Derivatives

Research team led by Professor Lee Sang-hyeop, College of Life Sciences (Provided by Sejong University)

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] On the 31st, Sejong University announced that the research team led by Professor Sanghyeop Lee of the College of Life Sciences identified the genes involved in the biosynthesis of cucurbitacin derivatives and the effects of cucurbitacin derivatives on plants. The research results were published online in the international journal 'Communications Biology.' In this study, Professor Lee's team discovered that the acetyltransferase (ACT) enzyme plays a crucial role in the synthesis of various cucurbitacin derivatives. The ACT enzyme synthesizes by attaching and detaching acetyl groups to the basic skeleton of cucurbitacin through enzymatic reactions. The team confirmed that the ACT enzyme reaction is not limited to organic compounds but also occurs in substances of the triterpenoid family with a skeleton similar to cucurbitacin. This study suggests the possibility of efficiently biosynthesizing triterpenoid compounds with various active effects for application in diverse industrial fields. As the importance of natural bio-materials increases, this provides a clue for the efficient production of natural products with various functionalities.

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