The biosynthetic pathway of the nonsugar, high-intensity sweetener mogroside V from Siraitia grosvenorii
Abstract
We identified the biosynthetic pathway for the nonsugar sweetener mogroside V, a noncaloric with a sweetening strength 250-fold that of sucrose. This compound is produced by the fruit of the endemic Chinese cucurbit Siraitia grosvenoriii, also known as monk fruit and luo-han-guo. The metabolic pathway was identified using a combination of genomic and transcriptomic databases of the Siraitia plant, together with a large-scale functional expression of candidate genes. The novelty of the pathway could be attributed to a highly coordinated gene expression pattern responsible for the unique epoxidations, hydroxylations, and glucosylations leading to the sweet mogrosides. These discoveries will facilitate the development of alternative natural sweeteners.
- Publication:
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Proceedings of the National Academy of Science
- Pub Date:
- November 2016
- DOI:
- 10.1073/pnas.1604828113
- Bibcode:
- 2016PNAS..113E7619I