Saponins glucosyltransferases

The synthesis of triterpenoid saponins from the skeletons shown in Fig. 2 involves a series of further modifications that may include a variety of different oxidation and substitution events [9]. Very little is known about the enzymes and genes involved in the elaboration of the triterpenoid skeleton, although genetic and biochemical analysis of saponin-deficient mutants of plants is likely to accelerate the dissection of these processes [16]. Progress has been made in the characterisation of saponin glucosyltransferases (primarily for steroidal and steroidal alkaloid saponins), and the first of these enzymes (StSGT from potato) has been cloned. Since glycosylation at the C-3 hydroxyl position confers am-... 

Kohara, A., Nakajima, C., Hashimoto, K., Ikenaga, T, Tanaka, H., Shoyama, Y, Yoshida, S. and Muranaka, T. (2005) A novel glucosyltransferase involved in steroid saponin biosynthesis in Solanum aculeatissimum. Plant Mol. Biol., 57, 225-39. 

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