Molecular Visualization Laboratory (BIOL4450): Biosynthetic Pathway of Flavonoid 3'-O-methyltransferase
Disciplines
Biotechnology | Molecular Biology | Other Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology | Plant Biology | Science and Mathematics Education
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Flavonoids are diverse plant metabolites essential for plant defense, pigmentation, and UV protection. These compounds, including flavanol’s, flavones, and isoflavonoids, offer various health benefits in human health due to their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. O-methylation is an essential modification in flavonoid biosynthesis, mediated by methyltransferases such as flavonoid 3'-O-methyltransferase (FOMT). This post-synthetic modification enhances the compounds' lipophilicity and bioactivity. S-adenosylmethionine (SAM or AdoMet) is the methyl donor in these reactions, contributing to the structural diversity of flavonoids and their specialized metabolic roles. These biosynthetic processes are crucial for plant adaptability, defense mechanisms, and potential healthcare applications, particularly in developing plant-based therapeutics. The flavonoid biosynthetic pathway involves the enzymatic activity of methyltransferases, which modify flavonoids, enhancing their role in plant-specialized metabolism. These phytochemicals, such as erythritol and caffeic acid, are critical for the plant's response to environmental stressors. Understanding these processes provides insights into molecular evolution and the structural basis of flavonoid modification. To further investigate the structural mechanisms, we employed methods such as gene expression in Escherichia coli, protein purification, and 2D gel electrophoresis to further investigate the structural mechanism of FOMT. Utilizing augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies to visualize enzyme-substrate interactions enhances the understanding of catalytic processes. X-ray crystallography further supports this by revealing the 3D structure of these enzymes. This innovative approach, combining STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics), fosters creativity in exploring biological processes. By integrating molecular biology techniques, bioinformatics, and visualization technologies, it highlights the potential of flavonoid biosynthesis for advancements in agricultural biotechnology and holistic health science, enhancing both biomolecular discovery and educational experiences.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
CSM - Molecular and Cellular Biology
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Dr. Soon Goo Lee
Molecular Visualization Laboratory (BIOL4450): Biosynthetic Pathway of Flavonoid 3'-O-methyltransferase
Flavonoids are diverse plant metabolites essential for plant defense, pigmentation, and UV protection. These compounds, including flavanol’s, flavones, and isoflavonoids, offer various health benefits in human health due to their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. O-methylation is an essential modification in flavonoid biosynthesis, mediated by methyltransferases such as flavonoid 3'-O-methyltransferase (FOMT). This post-synthetic modification enhances the compounds' lipophilicity and bioactivity. S-adenosylmethionine (SAM or AdoMet) is the methyl donor in these reactions, contributing to the structural diversity of flavonoids and their specialized metabolic roles. These biosynthetic processes are crucial for plant adaptability, defense mechanisms, and potential healthcare applications, particularly in developing plant-based therapeutics. The flavonoid biosynthetic pathway involves the enzymatic activity of methyltransferases, which modify flavonoids, enhancing their role in plant-specialized metabolism. These phytochemicals, such as erythritol and caffeic acid, are critical for the plant's response to environmental stressors. Understanding these processes provides insights into molecular evolution and the structural basis of flavonoid modification. To further investigate the structural mechanisms, we employed methods such as gene expression in Escherichia coli, protein purification, and 2D gel electrophoresis to further investigate the structural mechanism of FOMT. Utilizing augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies to visualize enzyme-substrate interactions enhances the understanding of catalytic processes. X-ray crystallography further supports this by revealing the 3D structure of these enzymes. This innovative approach, combining STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics), fosters creativity in exploring biological processes. By integrating molecular biology techniques, bioinformatics, and visualization technologies, it highlights the potential of flavonoid biosynthesis for advancements in agricultural biotechnology and holistic health science, enhancing both biomolecular discovery and educational experiences.