PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSIS OF DELTA-GUAIENE SYNTHASE FROM AGARWOODPRODUCING PLANTS (AQUILARIA CRASSNA)

• Main Author: Hidayah, Chumairotul
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/63251
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Aquilaria crassna is a member of the Thymelaeaceae, a plant that produces agarwood or resin that accumulates in plant tissues used for medicinal and perfumery purposes. One of the main components of gaharu production is deltaguaiene, a sesquiterpene compound synthesized by the activity of the enzyme deltaguaiene synthase (DGS). However, research on delta-guaiene synthase in Aquilaria species is still minimal. The purpose of this study was to analyze the evolutionary relationship of delta-guaiene synthase A. crassna (AcDGS) with sesquiterpene synthase in the genus Aquilaria, as well as non-gaharu-producing species. A total of 37 sesquiterpene synthase gene sequences from the National Center for Biotechnology (NCBI) were used to reconstruct the phylogenetic tree. As an outgroup, a sesquiterpene synthase from the monocot plant, Oryza barthii (ObSTS) was used. Identification of positive selection sites was carried out to determine the history of mutations in AcDGS. The analysis was continued by determining the comparison of the AcDGS protein structure with the sesquiterpene synthase of the 4 selected species. Based on the phylogenetic tree, AcDGS forms a group with the species Aquilaria, Stellera chamaejasme, Zanthoxylum piperitum, and Citrus bergamia. Only 1 positive selection site was detected, Ser10 AcDGS. Mutations at this site did not affect the protein's catalytic activity. The AcDGS protein analysis found 2 terminal domains, 4 conserved motifs, and several functional sites. most of the functional sites, such as aspartate-rich regions, active site cap residues, and substrate-binding regions are located in the C-terminal domain. No functional sites were found in the N-terminal domain. Comparison of the 3D structure of AcDGS with other sesquiterpene synthases did not provide a significant difference. The results of this study are expected to be used as a basis for molecular engineering in the formation of agarwood.