Manish Walia

Manish Walia

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Manish Walia

Department of Chemistry, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122, USA

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

9Years (2018-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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22 June 2018 in Plant Physiology
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Journal Article
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ICInês Soares Teto Carqueijeiro
Inês Soares Teto Carqueijeiro
SBStephanie Brown
Stephanie Brown
KCKhoa Chung
Khoa Chung
TDThu-Thuy T Dang
Thu-Thuy T Dang
MWManish Walia
Manish Walia
Vincent CourdavaultVincent Courdavault
Vincent Courdavault
Lochnericine is a major monoterpene indole alkaloid (MIA) in the roots of Madagascar periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus). Lochnericine is derived from stereoselective C6, C7 epoxidation of tabersonine and can be further metabolized to generate other complex MIAs. While the enzymes responsible for its downstream modifications have been characterized, those involved in lochnericine biosynthesis remain unknown. By combining gene correlation studies, functional assays, and transient gene inactivation, we identified two highly conserved P450s that efficiently catalyze the epoxidation of tabersonine: tabersonine 6,7-epoxidase isoforms 1 and 2 (TEX1 and TEX2). Both proteins are quite divergent from the previously characterized tabersonine 2, 3 epoxidase and are more closely related to tabersonine 16-hydroxylase, involved in vindoline biosynthesis in leaves. Biochemical characterization of TEX1/2 revealed their strict substrate specificity for tabersonine and their inability to epoxidize 19-hydroxytabersonine, indicating that they catalyze the first step in the pathway leading to hörhammericine production. TEX1 and TEX2 displayed complementary expression profiles, with TEX1 mainly expressed in roots and TEX2 in aerial organs. Our results suggest that TEX1 and TEX2 originated from a gene duplication event and later acquired divergent, organ-specific regulatory elements for lochnericine biosynthesis throughout the plant, as supported by the presence of lochnericine in flowers. Finally, through sequential expression of TEX1 and up to four other MIA biosynthetic genes in yeast, we reconstituted the 19-acetylhörhammericine biosynthetic pathway and produced tailor-made MIAs by mixing enzymatic modules that are naturally spatially separated in the plant. These results lay the groundwork for metabolic engineering of tabersonine/lochnericine derivatives of pharmaceutical interest.