ArticleNature chemical biology2025
Unlocking saponin biosynthesis in soapwort.
Article in Nature chemical biology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 16 papers.
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The trial behind it
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Who cites it
16 citing papers in PubMed.
- Functional characterization of four glycosyltransferases for biosynthesis of steroidal saponins in medicinal plantSynthetic and systems biotechnology · 2026Article
- Harnessing two UDP-glycosyltransferases from Saponaria officinalis toward heterologous production of endosomal escape enhancer saponins in Gypsophila elegans hairy roots.The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology · 2026Article
- Complete biosynthesis of the clinical agent escin Ia.Nature communications · 2026Article
- Mechanistic Insights Into Functional Innovations of Dammarenediol-II Synthase in Panax ginseng.Plant biotechnology journal · 2026Article
- Programmable saponin biosynthesis from gene networks to predictive biomanufacturing.Frontiers in plant science · 2026Review
- Enzymology and Structural Basis of Glycosyltransferases Involved in Saponin C28 Carboxylic AcidJACS Au · 2025Article
- Advances in the microbial biosynthesis of therapeutic terpenoids.Current opinion in biotechnology · 2025Review
- Tomatine as a versatile adjuvant boosts mRNA vaccine responses.Materials today. Bio · 2025Article
- Unveiling the catalytical roles of three glycosyltransferases in triterpenoid saponins in quinoa.Plant biotechnology journal · 2025Article
- Engineering Gypsophila elegans hairy root cultures to produce endosomal escape-enhancing saponins.Plant biotechnology journal · 2025Article
- A million shades of green: understanding and harnessing plant metabolic diversity.The EMBO journal · 2025Review
- Plant-derived triterpenoid saponins: multifaceted roles and bioengineering prospects.Plant cell reports · 2025Review
- Harnessing Thalassochemicals: Marine Saponins as Bioactive Agents in Nutraceuticals and Food Technologies.Marine drugs · 2025Review
- Chromosome-level genome assembly and annotation of Gypsophila vaccaria.Scientific data · 2025Article
- Navigating the challenges of engineering composite specialized metabolite pathways in plants.The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology · 2025Review
- Traditional Chinese medicine as potential adjuvants for tumor vaccines: a review of types, mechanisms, and forms.Frontiers in immunology · 2025Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
21 authors.
Funding
Abstract
Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis) is a flowering plant from the Caryophyllaceae family with a long history of human use as a traditional source of soap. Its detergent properties are because of the production of polar compounds (saponins), of which the oleanane-based triterpenoid saponins, saponariosides A and B, are the major components. Soapwort saponins have anticancer properties and are also of interest as endosomal escape enhancers for targeted tumor therapies. Intriguingly, these saponins share common structural features with the vaccine adjuvant QS-21 and, thus, represent a potential alternative supply of saponin adjuvant precursors. Here, we sequence the S. officinalis genome and, through genome mining and combinatorial expression, identify 14 enzymes that complete the biosynthetic pathway to saponarioside B. These enzymes include a noncanonical cytosolic GH1 (glycoside hydrolase family 1) transglycosidase required for the addition of D-quinovose. Our results open avenues for accessing and engineering natural and new-to-nature pharmaceuticals, drug delivery agents and potential immunostimulants.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.