Molecular cloning of columbamine O‐methyltransferase from cultured Coptis japonica cells

To identify all of the O‐methyltransferase genes involved in isoquinoline alkaloid biosynthesis in Coptis japonica cells, we sequenced 1014 cDNA clones isolated from high‐alkaloid‐producing cultured cells of C. japonica. Among them, we found all three reported O‐methyltransferases and an O‐methyltransferase‐like cDNA clone (CJEST64). This cDNA was quite similar to S‐adenosyl‐l‐methionine:coclaurine 6‐O‐methyltransferase and S‐adenosyl‐l‐methionine:isoflavone 7‐O‐methyltransferase. As S‐adenosyl‐l‐methionine:columbamine O‐methyltransferase, which catalyzes the conversion of columbamine to palmatine, is one of the remaining unelucidated components in isoquinoline alkaloid biosynthesis in C. japonica, we heterologously expressed the protein in Escherichia coli and examined the activity of columbamine O‐methyltransferase. The recombinant protein clearly showed O‐methylation activity using columbamine, as well as (S)‐tetrahydrocolumbamine, (S)‐, (R,S)‐scoulerine and (R,S)‐2,3,9,10‐tetrahydroxyprotoberberine as substrates. This result clearly indicated that EST analysis was useful for isolating the candidate gene in a relatively well‐characterized biosynthetic pathway. The relationship between the structure and substrate recognition of the O‐methyltransferases involved in isoquinoline alkaloid biosynthesis, and a reconsideration of the biosynthetic pathway to palmatine are discussed.