POLYPEPTIDES FOR USE IN THE SYNTHESIS OF BIOACTIVE PHENOLIC COMPOUNDS

Abstract

Described herein is a polypeptide encoding a prenyltransferase for prenylating a polyphenol and a polypeptide encoding an O-methyltransferase for methylating a polyphenol. For example, the polypeptide comprises or consists of the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and/or 6, and/or a polypeptide listed in Table 1, and/or SEQ ID NO: 7-30, or a variant thereof having at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and/or 6, and/or the polypeptide listed in Table 1, and/or SEQ ID NO: 7-30, or a fragment of the polypeptide or the variant thereof.

Claims

1. A polypeptide encoding a prenyltransferase for prenylating a polyphenol.

2. The polypeptide of claim 1, wherein the prenyltransferase is a microbial prenyltransferase.

3. The polypeptide of claim or 2, comprising or consisting of a polypeptide having at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% sequence identity to the sequence of any one or more of SEQ ID NO: 1-6 and/or a polypeptide listed in Table 1, or a fragment of any thereof.

4. The polypeptide of claim 3, comprising or consisting of the sequence of any one or more of SEQ ID NO: 1-6 and/or a polypeptide listed in Table 1.

5. The polypeptide of claim 4, comprising or consisting of the sequence of any one or more of SEQ ID NO: 1-6.

6. The polypeptide of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the polypeptide prenylates the polyphenol using a prenyl donor.

7. The polypeptide of claim 6, wherein the prenyl donor is IPP, FPP, GPP, and/or DMAPP, or a variant or derivative thereof.

8. The polypeptide of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the polyphenol is a flavonoid, stilbenoid, and/or bibenzyl, or a derivative thereof.

9. The polypeptide of claim 8, wherein the flavonoid is a flavone, such as apigenin, luteolin, chrysoeriol, chrysin, acacetin, baicalein, baicalin, vitexin, wogonin, orientin, oroxylin A. rutin, or tangeritin; a flavonol such as quercetin, kaempferol, galangin, myricetin, tamarixetin, fisetin, or casticin; a flavanone such as naringenin, hesperetin, pinocembrin, hesperidin, or eriodictyol; a flavanonol such as taxifolin; a flavanol such as catechin, or epicatechin; an isoflavone such as genistein, or daidzein; an anthocyanin such as cyanidin, chrysanthemin, pelargonidin, delphinidin, or malvidin; or any combination thereof.

10. The polypeptide of claim 8, wherein the stilbenoid is resveratrol, piceatannol, pterostilbene, pinosylvin, gnetol, oxyresveratrol, pinostilbene, or any combination thereof.

11. The polypeptide of claim 8, wherein the bibenzyl is a dihydrostilbenoid such as dihydroresveratrol, combretastatin, dihydropiceatannol, dihydrognetol, dihydropinosylvin, gigantol, pinobistilbene, batatasin III, crepidatin, moscatilin, crysotoxine, chrysotobibenzyl, amoenylin, tristin, cumulating, or any combination thereof.

12. The polypeptide of claim 8, wherein the prenyltransferase prenylates the flavonoid to produce 8-prenyl kaempferol, isocannflavin B, cannflavin C, 6-prenylnaringenin, 6-prenylapigenin, neougonin A, neougonin B, and/or kuraridin.

13. The polypeptide of claim 8, wherein the prenyltransferase prenylates the stilbenoid to produce arachidins, isorhapontigenin, rhapontigenin, pawhuskin A, aglaiabbrevin E, amorphastilbol, or longistylins.

14. The polypeptide of claim 8, wherein the prenyltransferase prenylates the bibenzyl to produce canniprene, cannabistilbene, dihydrolongistylins, amorfrutin 1/A, or amorfrutin B.

15. The polypeptide of 9, wherein the prenyltransferase prenylates chrysoeriol using GPP to produce cannflavin A.

16. The polypeptide of claim 9, wherein the prenyltransferase prenylates chrysoeriol using DMAPP to produce cannflavin B.

17. A polypeptide encoding an O-methyltransferase for methylating a polyphenol.

18. The polypeptide of claim 17, wherein the O-methyltransferase is a plant O-methyltransferase.

19. The polypeptide of claim 18, wherein the O-methyltransferase is a Cannabis sativa O-methyltransferase.

20. The polypeptide of any one of claims 17 to 19, comprising or consisting of a polypeptide having at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% sequence identity to the sequence of any one or more of SEQ ID NO: 7-30, or a fragment of any thereof.

21. The polypeptide of claim 20, comprising or consisting of the sequence of any one or more of SEQ ID NO: 7-30.

22. The polypeptide of any one of claims 17 to 21, wherein the polypeptide methylates the polyphenol using a methyl donor.

23. The polypeptide of claim 22, wherein the methyl donor is S-adenosyl methionin, or a variant or derivative thereof.

24. The polypeptide of any one of claims 17 to 23, wherein the polyphenol is a flavonoid, stilbenoid, and/or bibenzyl, or a derivative thereof.

25. The polypeptide of claim 24, wherein the flavonoid is a flavone, such as apigenin, luteolin, chrysoeriol, chrysin, acacetin, baicalein, baicalin, vitexin, wogonin, orientin, oroxylin A. rutin, or tangeritin; a flavonol such as quercetin, kaempferol, galangin, myricetin, tamarixetin, fisetin, or casticin; a flavanone such as naringenin, hesperetin, pinocembrin, hesperidin, or eriodictyol; a flavanonol such as taxifolin; a flavanol such as catechin, or epicatechin; an isoflavone such as genistein, or daidzein; an anthocyanin such as cyanidin, chrysanthemin, pelargonidin, delphinidin, or malvidin; or any combination thereof.

26. The polypeptide of claim 24, wherein the stilbenoid is resveratrol, piceatannol, pterostilbene, pinosylvin, gnetol, oxyresveratrol, or any combination thereof.

27. The polypeptide of claim 24, wherein the bibenzyl is a dihydrostilbenoid such as dihydroresveratrol, combretastatin, dihydropiceatannol, dihydrognetol, dihydropinosylvin, gigantol, batatasin III, crepidatin, moscatilin, crysotoxine, chrysotobibenzyl, amoenylin, tristin, cumulating, or any combination thereof.

28. The polypeptide of claim 24, wherein the O-methyltransferase methylates a flavonoid to produce chrysoeriol, acacetin, tamarixetin, or methylquercetin.

29. In an aspect, the O-methyltransferase methylates a stilbenoid to produce pinostilbene, isorhapontigenin, rhapontigenin, or any combination thereof.

30. The polypeptide of claim 24, wherein the O-methyltransferase methylates a bibenzyl to produce gigantol, tristin, or pinobistilbene.

31. The polypeptide of any one of claims 1 to 30, wherein the polypeptide, variant, or fragment comprises up to about 100, about 150, about 200, about 250, about 300, about 350, about 360, about 370, about 380, about 390, about 400, about 410, about 420, about 430, about 440, about 450, or about 500 amino acids

32. The polypeptide of any one of claims 1 to 31, wherein the polypeptide is synthetic.

33. The polypeptide of any one of claims 1 to 32, wherein the polypeptide is recombinant.

34. A nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide of any one of claims 1 to 33.

35. The nucleic acid of claim 34, wherein the nucleic acid is cDNA.

36. A vector comprising the nucleic acid of claim 34 or 35.

37. A host cell comprising the vector of claim 36.

38. A host cell expressing the polypeptide of any one of claims 1 to 33.

39. The host cell of claim 37 or 38, wherein the host cell is a bacterial cell (e.g., E. coli or Agrobacterium tumefaciens), a yeast cell (e.g., S. cerevisiae), an algal cell, or a plant cell (e.g., Nicotiana spp.).

40. The host cell of any one of claims 37 to 39, in combination with the polyphenol.

41. The host cell of claim 40, wherein the polyphenol is provided in the host cell culture medium.

42. The host cell of claim 40 or 41, wherein the polyphenol is expressed by the host cell.

43. The host cell of any one of claims 37 to 42, in combination with a prenyl donor and/or a methyl donor.

44. The host cell of claim 43, wherein the prenyl donor and/or methyl donor is provided in the host cell culture medium.

45. The host cell of claim 43 or 44, wherein the prenyl donor and/or methyl donor is expressed by the host cell.

46. An expression system comprising the polypeptide of any one of claims 1 to 33; the nucleic acid of claim 34 or 35, the vector of claim 36, or the host cell of any one of claims 37 to 45.

47. The expression system of claim 46, further comprising the polyphenol and a prenyl donor and/or methyl donor.

48. A system for prenylating and/or methylating a polyphenol the system comprising the polypeptide of any one of claims 1 to 33.

49. The system of any one of claims 46 to 48, wherein the polypeptide is in a batch solution.

50. The system of any one of claims 46 to 49, wherein the polypeptide is immobilized in a support matrix.

51. The system of any one of claims 46 to 50, wherein the polypeptide is in a cell.

52. The system of any one of claims 46 to 50, wherein the system is cell-free.

53. A method for prenylating and/or methylating a polyphenol, wherein the method comprises contacting the polyphenol with the polypeptide of any one of claims 1 to 33.

54. The method of claim 53, carried out in the system of any one of claims 46 to 52.

55. The method of claim 53 or 54, wherein the method is a recombinant method comprising expressing the polypeptide of any one of claims 1 to 33 in a cell in the presence of the polyphenol and a prenyl donor and/or methyl donor.

56. The method of any one of claims 53 to 55, in combination with a synthetic chemical catalysis method.

57. The method of any one of claims 53 to 56, comprising a single synthesis step.

58. The method of any one of claims 53 to 57, wherein the method is carried out in combination with an enzymatic reaction.

59. The method of any one of claims 53 to 58, comprising a combined enzymatic O-methylation and prenylation step.

60. A method of producing cannflavin A, cannflavin B, isocannflavin B, the method comprising carrying out a combined enzymatic O-methylation and prenylation of a flavonoid.

61. A method of producing a longistylin, the method comprising carrying out a combined enzymatic O-methylation and prenylation of a stilbenoid.

62. A method of producing canniprene, cannabistilbene, dihydrolongistylin, amorfrutin 1/A, or amorfrutin B, the method comprising carrying out a combined enzymatic O-methylation and prenylation of a bibenzyl.

63. A synthetic chemical catalysis method of producing cannflavin A and/or cannflavin B, the method comprising using GPP and DMAPP in a single synthesis step from chrysoeriol or in combination with an enzymatic reaction such as the O-methylation of luteolin.

64. A prenylated and/or methylated polyphenol produced by the method of any one of claims 53 to 63.

65. The polyphenol of claim 64, wherein the polyphenol is substantially pure, for example, at least about 95%, about 96%, about 97%, about 98%, about 99%, about 99.5%, or about 99.9% pure.

66. The polyphenol of claim 64 or 65, wherein the polyphenol is cannflavin A and/or cannflavin B.

67. A cosmetic composition comprising the polyphenol of any one of claims 64 to 66 and at least one cosmetically acceptable carrier.

68. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the polyphenol of any one of claims 64 to 66 and at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

69. A natural health product comprising the polyphenol of any one of claims 64 to 66, such as a supplement, beverage, or food.

70. Use of the polyphenol of any one of claims 64 to 66 in a cosmetic, pharmaceutical, or natural health product.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The present invention will be further understood from the following description with reference to the Figures:

[0018] FIG. 1. Evidence for cannflavin A synthesis by NphB. (A) Representative HPLC chromatogram for an authentic cannflavin A standard. (B) Representative chromatogram of the product from a cell-free enzyme assay with recombinant NphB plus chrysoeriol and GPP. Note that the assay produces two major products; the first major peak elutes at the same time as the cannflavin A standard while the second peak elutes approximately 1 min later. The first major peak (1) which corresponds to cannflavin A elution time was collected and processed for mass spectrometry analysis.

[0019] FIG. 2. Mass spectrometry evidence for the synthesis of cannflavin A from chrysoeriol by NphB. (A) Q-TOF mass spectra of a cannflavin A standard (upper panel). The lower panel shows the collision-induced dissociation (CID)-Q-TOF mass spectral fragmentation pattern of such standard. (B) The first peak, which corresponds to an enzymatic product with the same retention time as cannflavin A on the HPLC (FIG. 1B), was collected offline. The upper panel shows that the mass spectrum of such a product (6-geranyl chrysoeriol) is consistent with the pattern of a cannflavin A standard ([M+H]+ 437). The CID-Q-TOF mass spectral fragmentation pattern of the enzymatic product from this assay (bottom panel) also resembles that of the cannflavin A standard in (A, bottom panel), indicating that prenylation of chrysoeriol with GPP by NphB produces cannflavin A.

[0020] FIG. 3. Selective methylation of flavonoids by O-methyltransferases form Cannabis. (A) Three flavones (apigenin, luteolin and chrysoeriol) and two flavonols (quercetin and kaempferol) that typically accumulate in C. sativa were tested as potential substrates for CsOMT6 and CsOMT21. Relative enzymatic activity and substrate preference of (B) CsOMT6 and (C) CsOMT21. The selected flavones and flavonols (as numbered in A) were provided to recombinant CsOMT6 or CsOMT21 that were purified by Ni2+-affinity chromatography in enzyme assays along with [.sup.14C]-SAM as a methyl donor. Data are meansSD from three independent experiments and are presented as relative activity compared to that observed with the preferred substrate for each enzyme.

[0021] FIG. 4. Methylation of bibenzyls by O-methyltransferases from Cannabis. (A) Four bibenzyl compounds (dihydroresveratrol, tristin, gigantol and batatasin III) were tested as potential substrates for CsOMT1, CsOMT3, CsOMT5, and CsOMT13. (B) Relative enzymatic activity of the four OMTs. The four selected bibenzyl compounds were provided to purified recombinant CsOMT1, CsOMT3, CsOMT5 or CsOMT13 in enzyme assays along with [.sup.14C]-SAM as a methyl donor. Data are means from three independent experiments and are shown as relative activity compared to that of CsOMT1 with dihydroresveratrol.

[0022] FIG. 5. Selective methylation of a bibenzyl by CsOMT1. (A) Phenolic compounds representing a bibenzyl (dihydroresveratrol), stilbenoids (resveratrol and pinosylvin), and a hydroxycinamic acid (caffeic acid) and in its reduced form (dihydrocaffeic acid) were tested as substrates for CsOMT1. (B) Relative enzymatic activity and substrate preference of CsOMT1. The five compounds were provided to purified recombinant CsOMT1 in enzyme assays along with [.sup.14C]-SAM as a methyl donor. Data are means from three independent experiments and are shown as relative activity compared to that of CsOMT1 with dihydroresveratrol.

[0023] FIG. 6. Enzymatic methylation activity of CsOMT1. (A) Reaction catalyzed by CsOMT1. (B) Representative chromatogram showing the reaction products resolved by HPLC that illustrates the separation of the methylated dihydroresveratrol from its corresponding substrate (dihydroresveratrol, DHR). The identity of 3-O-methyl-dihydroresveratrol (pinobistilbene) was structurally determined by NMR. (C) Kinetic analysis of CsOMT1. Recombinant CsOMT1 was assayed under standard assay conditions at the indicated concentrations of dihydroresveratrol. Kinetic parameters were determined by non-linear regression analysis using the Michaelis-Menten kinetics model of the SigmaPlot 12.3 software.

SUMMARY

[0024] In accordance with an aspect, there is provided a polypeptide encoding a prenyltransferase for prenylating a polyphenol.

[0025] In an aspect, the prenyltransferase is a microbial prenyltransferase.

[0026] In an aspect, the polypeptide is comprising or consisting of a polypeptide having at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% sequence identity to the sequence of any one or more of SEQ ID NO: 1-6 and/or a polypeptide listed in Table 1, or a fragment of any thereof.

[0027] In an aspect, the polypeptide is comprising or consisting of the sequence of any one or more of SEQ ID NO: 1-6 and/or a polypeptide listed in Table 1.

[0028] In an aspect, the polypeptide is comprising or consisting of the sequence of any one or more of SEQ ID NO: 1-6.

[0029] In an aspect, the polypeptide prenylates the polyphenol using a prenyl donor.

[0030] In an aspect, the prenyl donor is IPP, FPP, GPP, and/or DMAPP, or a variant or derivative thereof.

[0031] In an aspect, the polyphenol is a flavonoid, stilbenoid, and/or bibenzyl, or a derivative thereof.

[0032] In an aspect, the flavonoid is a flavone, such as apigenin, luteolin, chrysoeriol, chrysin, acacetin, baicalein, baicalin, vitexin, wogonin, orientin, oroxylin A. rutin, or tangeritin; a flavonol such as quercetin, kaempferol, galangin, myricetin, tamarixetin, fisetin, or casticin; a flavanone such as naringenin, hesperetin, pinocembrin, hesperidin, or eriodictyol; a flavanonol such as taxifolin; a flavanol such as catechin, or epicatechin; an isoflavone such as genistein, or daidzein; an anthocyanin such as cyanidin, chrysanthemin, pelargonidin, delphinidin, or malvidin; or any combination thereof.

[0033] In an aspect, the stilbenoid is resveratrol, piceatannol, pterostilbene, pinosylvin, gnetol, oxyresveratrol, pinostilbene, or any combination thereof.

[0034] In an aspect, the bibenzyl is a dihydrostilbenoid such as dihydroresveratrol, combretastatin, dihydropiceatannol, dihydrognetol, dihydropinosylvin, gigantol, pinobistilbene, batatasin III, crepidatin, moscatilin, crysotoxine, chrysotobibenzyl, amoenylin, tristin, cumulating, or any combination thereof.

[0035] In an aspect, the prenyltransferase prenylates the flavonoid to produce 8-prenyl kaempferol, isocannflavin B, cannflavin C, 6-prenylnaringenin, 6-prenylapigenin, neougonin A, neougonin B, and/or kuraridin.

[0036] In an aspect, the prenyltransferase prenylates the stilbenoid to produce arachidins, isorhapontigenin, rhapontigenin, pawhuskin A, aglaiabbrevin E, amorphastilbol, or longistylins.

[0037] In an aspect, the prenyltransferase prenylates the bibenzyl to produce canniprene, cannabistilbene, dihydrolongistylins, amorfrutin 1/A, or amorfrutin B.

[0038] In an aspect, the prenyltransferase prenylates chrysoeriol using GPP to produce cannflavin A.

[0039] In an aspect, the prenyltransferase prenylates chrysoeriol using DMAPP to produce cannflavin B.

[0040] In accordance with an aspect, there is provided a polypeptide encoding an O-methyltransferase for methylating a polyphenol.

[0041] In an aspect, the O-methyltransferase is a plant O-methyltransferase.

[0042] In an aspect, the O-methyltransferase is a Cannabis sativa O-methyltransferase.

[0043] In an aspect, the polypeptide is comprising or consisting of a polypeptide having at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% sequence identity to the sequence of any one or more of SEQ ID NO: 7-30, or a fragment of any thereof.

[0044] In an aspect, the polypeptide is comprising or consisting of the sequence of any one or more of SEQ ID NO: 7-30.

[0045] In an aspect, the polypeptide methylates the polyphenol using a methyl donor.

[0046] In an aspect, the methyl donor is S-adenosyl methionin, or a variant or derivative thereof.

[0047] In an aspect, the polyphenol is a flavonoid, stilbenoid, and/or bibenzyl, or a derivative thereof.

[0048] In an aspect, the flavonoid is a flavone, such as apigenin, luteolin, chrysoeriol, chrysin, acacetin, baicalein, baicalin, vitexin, wogonin, orientin, oroxylin A. rutin, or tangeritin; a flavonol such as quercetin, kaempferol, galangin, myricetin, tamarixetin, fisetin, or casticin; a flavanone such as naringenin, hesperetin, pinocembrin, hesperidin, or eriodictyol; a flavanonol such as taxifolin; a flavanol such as catechin, or epicatechin; an isoflavone such as genistein, or daidzein; an anthocyanin such as cyanidin, chrysanthemin, pelargonidin, delphinidin, or malvidin; or any combination thereof.

[0049] In an aspect, the stilbenoid is resveratrol, piceatannol, pterostilbene, pinosylvin, gnetol, oxyresveratrol, or any combination thereof.

[0050] In an aspect, the bibenzyl is a dihydrostilbenoid such as dihydroresveratrol, combretastatin, dihydropiceatannol, dihydrognetol, dihydropinosylvin, gigantol, batatasin III, crepidatin, moscatilin, crysotoxine, chrysotobibenzyl, amoenylin, tristin, cumulating, or any combination thereof.

[0051] In an aspect, the O-methyltransferase methylates a flavonoid to produce chrysoeriol, acacetin, tamarixetin, or methylquercetin.

[0052] In an aspect, the O-methyltransferase methylates a stilbenoid to produce pinostilbene, isorhapontigenin, rhapontigenin, or any combination thereof.

[0053] In an aspect, the O-methyltransferase methylates a bibenzyl to produce gigantol, tristin, orpinobistilbene.

[0054] In an aspect, the polypeptide, variant, or fragment comprises up to about 100, about 150, about 200, about 250, about 300, about 350, about 360, about 370, about 380, about 390, about 400, about 410, about 420, about 430, about 440, about 450, or about 500 amino acids

[0055] In an aspect, the polypeptide is synthetic.

[0056] In an aspect, the polypeptide is recombinant.

[0057] In accordance with an aspect, there is provided a nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide described herein.

[0058] In an aspect, the nucleic acid is cDNA.

[0059] In accordance with an aspect, there is provided a vector comprising the nucleic acid described herein.

[0060] In accordance with an aspect, there is provided a host cell comprising the vector described herein.

[0061] In accordance with an aspect, there is provided a host cell expressing the polypeptide described herein.

[0062] In an aspect, the host cell is a bacterial cell (e.g., E. coli or Agrobacterium tumefaciens), a yeast cell (e.g., S. cerevisiae), an algal cell, or a plant cell (e.g., Nicotiana spp.).

[0063] In an aspect, the host cell is provided in combination with the polyphenol.

[0064] In an aspect, the polyphenol is provided in the host cell culture medium.

[0065] In an aspect, the polyphenol is expressed by the host cell.

[0066] In an aspect, the host cell is provided in combination with a prenyl donor and/or a methyl donor.

[0067] In an aspect, the prenyl donor and/or methyl donor is provided in the host cell culture medium.

[0068] In an aspect, the prenyl donor and/or methyl donor is expressed by the host cell.

[0069] In accordance with an aspect, there is provided an expression system comprising the polypeptide; the nucleic acid, the vector; or the host cell described herein.

[0070] In an aspect, the expression system further comprises the polyphenol and a prenyl donor and/or methyl donor.

[0071] In accordance with an aspect, there is provided a system for prenylating and/or methylating a polyphenol the system comprising the polypeptide described herein.

[0072] In an aspect, the polypeptide is in a batch solution.

[0073] In an aspect, the polypeptide is immobilized in a support matrix.

[0074] In an aspect, the polypeptide is in a cell.

[0075] In an aspect, the system is cell-free.

[0076] In accordance with an aspect, there is provided a method for prenylating and/or methylating a polyphenol, wherein the method comprises contacting the polyphenol with the polypeptide described herein.

[0077] In an aspect, the method is carried out in the system described herein.

[0078] In an aspect, the method is a recombinant method comprising expressing the polypeptide described herein in a cell in the presence of the polyphenol and a prenyl donor and/or methyl donor.

[0079] In an aspect, the method is in combination with a synthetic chemical catalysis method.

[0080] In an aspect, the method comprises a single synthesis step.

[0081] In an aspect, the method is carried out in combination with an enzymatic reaction.

[0082] In an aspect, the method comprises a combined enzymatic O-methylation and prenylation step.

[0083] In accordance with an aspect, there is provided a method of producing cannflavin A, cannflavin B, isocannflavin B, the method comprising carrying out a combined enzymatic O-methylation and prenylation of a flavonoid.

[0084] In accordance with an aspect, there is provided a method of producing a longistylin, the method comprising carrying out a combined enzymatic O-methylation and prenylation of a stilbenoid.

[0085] In accordance with an aspect, there is provided a method of producing canniprene, cannabistilbene, dihydrolongistylin, amorfrutin 1/A, or amorfrutin B, the method comprising carrying out a combined enzymatic O-methylation and prenylation of a bibenzyl.

[0086] In accordance with an aspect, there is provided a synthetic chemical catalysis method of producing cannflavin A and/or cannflavin B, the method comprising using GPP and DMAPP in a single synthesis step from chrysoeriol or in combination with an enzymatic reaction such as the O-methylation of luteolin.

[0087] In accordance with an aspect, there is provided a prenylated and/or methylated polyphenol produced by the method described herein.

[0088] In an aspect, the polyphenol is substantially pure, for example, at least about 95%, about 96%, about 97%, about 98%, about 99%, about 99.5%, or about 99.9% pure.

[0089] In an aspect, the polyphenol is cannflavin A and/or cannflavin B.

[0090] In accordance with an aspect, there is provided a cosmetic composition comprising the polyphenol described herein and at least one cosmetically acceptable carrier.

[0091] In accordance with an aspect, there is provided a pharmaceutical composition comprising the polyphenol described herein and at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

[0092] In accordance with an aspect, there is provided a natural health product comprising the polyphenol described herein, such as a supplement, beverage, or food.

[0093] In accordance with an aspect, there is provided a use of the polyphenol described herein in a cosmetic, pharmaceutical, or natural health product.

[0094] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and the specific examples while indicating embodiments of the invention are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the detailed description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0095] The enhanced and distinct biological activities of modified polyphenols have prompted the utilization of plants containing these as medicinal plants and also as ingredients in products for food industries, breweries, and cosmetic companies. Some show promise as important compounds for the development of nutraceuticals and new pharmacological agents for the treatment of different medical conditions. However, there are several obstacles that have limited the potential applications of these compounds: [0096] In many cases, prenylated and/or methylated flavonoids often exist at trace levels in natural sources or are present in a limited number of plant species. [0097] Plant extraction of polyphenols often poses a significant challenge for cost-effective production due to the high cost associated with downstream processing and purification from complicated mixtures. Isolation from native plant sources also depends on external factors (e.g. agricultural, climate and geographic variations), which results in inconsistent quality needed for drug ingredients. [0098] In vivo synthesis in heterologous plant or microbial systems is usually regarded as not sustainable because of low production rates. [0099] Genetic reconstruction of biosynthetic routes raises several challenges in terms of the assembly of a genetic pathway. Although yeast has proven to be an amenable organism for replicating biosynthesis of various plant pathways, only a few have been reconstructed successfully (Paddon and Keasling 2014; Thodey et al. 2014). For example, compartmentalization, expression of integral membrane-bound plant enzymes, branched pathways and specific regulatory mechanisms affecting synthesis are among the major challenges to microorganisms for producing secondary natural products. [0100] In many cases, organic chemical synthesis is not an amenable cost-effective approach.

[0101] Described herein are prenyltransferases and methyltransferases that can serve as alternate production catalysts for the in vitro and in vivo prenylation and/or methylation of natural products of plant origin, such as polyphenols, such as flavonoids, stilbenoids and bibenzyls. In addition, the approaches described herein provide the basis for exploring novel prenylation and methylation chemistry and bioactivity of natural and novel synthetic prenylated or methylated aromatic compounds by means of structure-based enzyme engineering.

[0102] Thus, described herein are polypeptides and related methods for the synthesis of polyphenols using prenyltransferases and methyltransferases or variants of such enzymes. These are typically derived from microbial, such as bacterial or fungal, or plant sources, such as Cannabis sativa. The use of enzymes with potential prenyltranferase activity is described herein, for example, NphB, HypSc, CloQ, NovQ, Fur7, and PpzP and related sequences. In vitro catalysis systems, designed to utilize these enzymes and thereby produce substantially pure prenylated polyphenols, such as flavonoids, stilbenoids or bibenzyls, are described. For example, NphB or an enzyme with a similar amino acid sequence which prenylates chrysoeriol using GPP or DMAPP to produce cannflavin A or cannflavin B, respectively.

[0103] Like cannflavin A and cannflavin B, these and other prenylated flavonoids (for example, 8-prenyl kaempferol, isocannflavin B, cannflavin C, 6-prenylnaringenin, 6-prenylapigenin, neougonin A and B), stilbenoids (for example, pawhuskin A aglaiabbrevin E, amorphastilbol, longistylins) or bibenzyls (for example, canniprene, cannabistilbene, dihydrolongistylins, amorfrutin 1/A, amorfrutin B) may find use in anti-inflammatory compositions and methods.

[0104] In addition, the use of plant enzymes with O-methyltransferase activity is described, for example CsOMT1-24. Methylation by these methyltransferases can produce pure polyphenols such as flavonoids (for example, chrysoeriol, acacetin, tamarixetin, methylquercetin), stilbenoids, or bibenzyls (for example gigantol and pinobistilbene), bioactive compounds that can find direct use or can be employed as substrates for further prenylation through an in vitro method or by chemical synthesis.

Definitions

[0105] Unless defined otherwise, technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. See, e.g. Singleton et al., Dictionary of Microbiology and Molecular Biology 2nd ed., J. Wiley & Sons (New York, N.Y. 1994); Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning. A Laboratory Manual, Cold Springs Harbor Press (Cold Springs Harbor, N Y 1989), each of which is incorporated herein by reference. For the purposes of the present invention, the following terms are defined below.

[0106] As used herein, the term flavonoid includes, for example, flavanone, flavone, flavonol, flavanonol, isoflavone, anthocyan, and chalcone, as well as derivatives thereof, such as prenylated or methylated derivatives thereof, unless otherwise specified. Examples of flavonoids include naringenin, apigenin, luteolin, myricetin, quercetin, catechin, daidzein, genistein, kaempferol, pelargonidin, delphinidin, and cyanidin. Flavonoids may be of natural or synthetic origin and have the following general structure. Numbers in the ring structures indicate the positions of hydroxyl groups and where modifications such as prenylation, methylation or glycosylation can occur. Usually, the position of such modifications and hydroxyl groups determine than bioactivity of the molecule.

##STR00001##

[0107] The term stilbenoid includes any hydroxylated derivatives of stilbene, as well as derivatives thereof, such as methylated or prenylated derivatives thereof unless otherwise specified. Examples of stilbenoids include resveratrol, piceatannol, pterostilbene, pinosylvin and gnetol. Stilbenoids may be of natural or synthetic origin and have the following general structure. Numbers in the ring structures indicate the positions of hydroxyl groups and where modifications such as prenylation, methylation or glycosylation can occur. Usually, the position of such modifications and hydroxyl groups determines than bioactivity of the molecule.

##STR00002##

[0108] The term bibenzyl includes any dihydrostilbene derivatives, as well as derivatives thereof, such as methylated or prenylated derivatives thereof unless otherwise specified. Examples of bibenzyls include dihydroresveratrol, combretastatin, dihydropiceatannol, gigantol, tristin, batatasin Ill, crepidatin, and amoenylin. Bibenzyls may be of natural or synthetic origin and have the following general structure. Numbers in the ring structures indicate the positions of hydroxyl groups and where modifications such as prenylation, methylation or glycosylation can occur. Usually, the position of such modifications and hydroxyl groups determines than bioactivity of the molecule.

##STR00003##

[0109] Variants of the sequences described herein are biologically active sequences that have a peptide sequence that differs from the sequence of a native or wild-type sequence, by virtue of an insertion, deletion, modification and/or substitution of one or more amino acids within the native sequence. Such variants generally have less than 100% sequence identity with a native sequence. Ordinarily, however, a biologically active variant will have an amino acid sequence with at least about 70% sequence identity with the sequence of a corresponding naturally occurring sequence, typically at least about 75%, more typically at least about 80%, even more typically at least about 85%, even more typically at least about 90%, and even more typically of at least about 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% sequence identity. The variants nucleotide fragments of any length that retain a biological activity of the corresponding native sequence. Variants also include sequences wherein one or more amino acids are added at either end of, or within, a native sequence. Variants also include sequences where a number of amino acids are deleted and optionally substituted by one or more different amino acids.

[0110] As used herein, treatment or therapy is an approach for obtaining beneficial or desired clinical results. For the purposes described herein, beneficial or desired clinical results include, but are not limited to, alleviation of symptoms, diminishment of the extent of disease, stabilized (i.e., not worsening) state of disease, delay or slowing of disease progression, amelioration or palliation of the disease state, and remission (whether partial or total), whether detectable or undetectable. Treatment and therapy can also mean prolonging survival as compared to expected survival if not receiving treatment or therapy. Thus, treatment or therapy is an intervention performed with the intention of altering the pathology of a disorder. Specifically, the treatment or therapy may directly prevent, slow down or otherwise decrease the pathology of a disease or disorder such as inflammation, or may render the inflammation more susceptible to treatment or therapy by other therapeutic agents.

[0111] The terms therapeutically effective amount, effective amount or sufficient amount mean a quantity sufficient, when administered to a subject, including a mammal, for example, a human, to achieve a desired result, for example, an amount effective to treat inflammation. Effective amounts of the polyphenolic compounds described herein may vary according to factors such as the disease state, age, sex, and weight of the subject. Dosage or treatment regimens may be adjusted to provide the optimum therapeutic response, as is understood by a skilled person.

[0112] Likewise, an effective amount of the polyphenolic compounds described herein refers to an amount sufficient to function as desired, such as to treat inflammation.

[0113] Administration in combination with one or more further therapeutic agents includes simultaneous (concurrent) and consecutive administration in any order.

[0114] The term pharmaceutically acceptable means that the compound or combination of compounds is compatible with the remaining ingredients of a formulation for pharmaceutical use, and that it is generally safe for administering to humans according to established governmental standards, including those promulgated by the United States Food and Drug Administration.

[0115] Carriers as used herein include cosmetically or pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, excipients, or stabilizers that are non-toxic to the cell or subject being exposed thereto at the dosages and concentrations employed. Often the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier is an aqueous pH buffered solution. Examples of pharmacologically acceptable carriers include buffers such as phosphate, citrate, and other organic acids; antioxidants including ascorbic acid; low molecular weight (less than about 10 residues) polypeptides; proteins, such as serum albumin, gelatin, or immunoglobulins; hydrophilic polymers such as polyvinylpyrrolidone; amino acids such as glycine, glutamine, asparagine, arginine or lysine; monosaccharides, disaccharides, and other carbohydrates including glucose, mannose, and dextrins; chelating agents such as EDTA; sugar alcohols such as mannitol and sorbitol; salt-forming counterions such as sodium; and/or non-ionic surfactants such as TWEEN, polyethylene glycol (PEG), and PLURONICS.

[0116] In understanding the scope of the present application, the articles a, an, the, and said are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. Additionally, the term comprising and its derivatives, as used herein, is intended to be open-ended terms that specify the presence of the stated features, elements, components, groups, integers, and/or steps, but do not exclude the presence of other unstated features, elements, components, groups, integers and/or steps. The foregoing also applies to words having similar meanings such as the terms, including, having and their derivatives.

[0117] It will be understood that any embodiments described as comprising certain components may also consist of or consist essentially of, wherein consisting of has a closed-ended or restrictive meaning and consisting essentially of means including the components specified but excluding other components except for materials present as impurities, unavoidable materials present as a result of processes used to provide the components, and components added for a purpose other than achieving the technical effect of the invention. For example, a composition defined using the phrase consisting essentially of encompasses any known pharmaceutically acceptable additive, excipient, diluent, carrier, and the like. Typically, a composition consisting essentially of a set of components will comprise less than 5% by weight, typically less than 3% by weight, more typically less than 1% by weight of non-specified components.

[0118] It will be understood that any component defined herein as being included may be explicitly excluded from the claimed invention by way of proviso or negative limitation. For example, in embodiments, THC, cannabinoids, and/or terpenes are explicitly excluded from the compositions and methods described herein.

[0119] In addition, all ranges given herein include the end of the ranges and also any intermediate-range points, whether explicitly stated or not.

[0120] Finally, terms of degree such as substantially, about and approximately as used herein mean a reasonable amount of deviation of the modified term such that the end result is not significantly changed. These terms of degree should be construed as including a deviation of at least 5% of the modified term if this deviation would not negate the meaning of the word it modifies.

Polypeptides

[0121] Described herein, in aspects, are polypeptides encoding enzymes that are typically prenyltransferases. These polypeptides are typically derived from microbes such as bacteria or fungus and find use in converting polyphenols, such as flavonoid compounds, into compounds with medicinal activity and/or precursors to such compounds. For example, described herein are polypeptides comprising one or more of the following sequences, variants thereof, or fragments of the polypeptides or variants. Variants can be of natural origin such as orthologous sequences from related bacterial or fungal species, or of non-natural versions obtained synthetically or by mutations. In the following sequences, amino acid sequences and GenBank accession numbers of these enzymes and their relatives are shown. Also described herein are orthologous sequences similar to SEQS NO:1-6 found in nature with their respective GenBank accession numbers (see Table 1).

TABLE-US-00001 >NphB/Orf2/BAE00106[Streptomycessp.CL190] SEQIDNO:1 MSEAADVERVYAAMEEAAGLLGVACARDKIYPLLSTFQDTLVEGGSVVV ESMASGRHSTELDESISVPTSHGDPYATVVEKGLFPATGHPVDDLLADT QKHLPVSMFAIDGEVTGGFKKTYAFFPTDNMPGVAELSAIPSMPPAVAE NAELFARYGLDKVQMTSMDYKKRQVNLYESELSAQTLEAESVLALVREL GLHVPNELGLKFCKRSFSVYPTLNWETGKIDRLCFAVISNDPTLVPSSD EGDIEKFHNYATKAPYAYVGEKRTLVYGLTLSPKEEYYKLGAYYHITDV QRGLLKAFDSLED >HypSc/SCO7190/NP631248 [StreptomycescoelicolorA3(2)] SEQIDNO:2 MPTGRTTDLALFLSDLEAYAKLAEVTEDKRAVEQVVDVEAEQFATGTIT VRTTTHEAANRSVNFRYMYPDSPHDPVEIARAHGLLPDADPAVMSLLAE VTEKIPLWWGLDASVGHGVQKVWAFFEQPLEFGEIASLENTPHSLRDHR ERFGEARIDRFAIMGFDERDNTTNLYSEMVSPGYFEQEEVARMIRDVGS LPPDNEEIERCRGAINVYYTEDWNSPQARRLCFAVPSRDGEFPSHLHPL AARFAAEAPVQAERRELIENPTFGARGSYLKMEADYTGDAASRVEGYWN R >CloQ/AAN65239[Streptomycesroseochromogenus subsp.oscitans] SEQIDNO:3 MPALPIDQEFDCERFRADIRATAAAIGAPIAHRLTDTVLEAFRDNFAQG ATLWKTTSQPGDQLSYRFFSRLKMDTVSRAIDAGLLDAAHPTLAVVDAW SSLYGGAPVQSGDFDAGRGMAKTWLYFGGLRPAEDILTVPALPASVQAR LKDELALGLAHVRFAAVDWRHHSANVYFRGKGPLDTVQFARIHALSGST PPAAHVVEEVLAYMPEDYCVAITLDLHSGDIERVCFYALKVPKNALPRI PTRIARFLEVAPSHDVEECNVIGWSFGRSGDYVKAERSYTGNMAEILAG WNCFFHGEEGRDHDLRALHQHTESTMGGAR >NovQ/AAF67510[Streptomycesniveus] SEQIDNO:4 MPALPMNQEFDRERFRVDLRATAAAIGAPVTPRVTDTVLETFRDNFAQG ATLWKTTSQPGDQLSYRFFSRLKMDTVGRAVDAGLLDGTHPTVPIVEDW SDLYGGTPVQSADFDAGRGMAKTWLYFGGLRPAEDILSVPALPAPVQAR LKDELGLGLAHVRFAAVDWRHRSANVYFRGQGPLDTAQFARVHALSGGT PPAADVVAEVLAYVPEDYCVAITLDLHTGAIDRVCFYALKVPKDARPRV PARIATFLEVAPSHDPEECNVIGWSFGRSGDYVKAERSYTGNMTEILSG WNCFFHGEEGRDHDLRALQDTGSITGGAR >Fur7/Q2L6E3.1[Streptomycessp.KO-3988] SEQIDNO:5 MPGTDDVAVDVASVYSAIEKSAGLLDVTAAREVVWPVLTAFEDVLEQAV IAFRVATNARHEGDEDVRFTVPEEVDPYAVALSRSLIAKTDHPVGSLLS DIQQLCSVDTYGVDLGVKSGFKKVWVYFPAGEHETLARLTGLTSMPGSL AGNVDFFTRYGLADKVDVIGIDYRSRTMNVYFAAPSECFERETVLAMHR DIGLPSPSEQMFKFCENSFGLYTTLNWDTMEIERISYGVKTENPMTFFA RLGTKVEHFVKNVPYGVDTQKMVYAAVTSSGEEYYKLQSYYRWRSVSRL NAAYIAARDKEST >PpzP/C4PWA1.1[Streptomycesanulatus] SEQIDNO:6 MSESAELTELYSAIEETTRVVGAPCRRDTVRPILTAYEDVIAQSVISFR VQTGTSDAGDLDCRFTLLPKDMDPYATALSNGLTAKTDHPVGSLLEEVH RQFPVDCYGIDFGAVGGFKKAWSFFRPDSLQSASDLAALPSMPSGVSEN LGLEDRYGMTDTVSVVGEDYAKRSVNLYFTGASPESFEPRGIQAILREC GLPEPSDELLRFGEEAFAIYVTLSWDSQKIERVTYSVNTPDPMALPVRI DTRIEQLVKDAPLGSAGHRYVYGVTATPKGEYHKIQKYFQWQSRVEKML TADAG

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 1 Accessions with significant similarity amino acid sequences to SEQS NO: 1-6 No Accession Description % Ident. 1 WP_057602682.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces sp. Root1310] NphB 100.00% 2 1ZB6_A Chain A, Aromatic Prenyltransferase [Streptomyces sp.] HypSc 100.00% 3 WP_023545098.1 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate 3-DMAPP transferase [Streptomyces roseochromogenus], CloQ 100.00% 4 WP_079127921.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces] NovQ 100.00% 5 Q2L6E3.1 Furaquinocin biosynthesis prenyltransferase [Streptomyces sp. KO-3988] Fur7 100.00% 6 C4PWA1.1 Dihydro-PCA dimethylallyltransferase; [Streptomyces anulatus] PpzP 100.00% 7 2XLQ_A Chain A, CLOQ [Streptomyces roseochromogenus subsp. oscitans] 100.00% 8 2XM7_A Chain A, CLOQ [Streptomyces roseochromogenus subsp. oscitans] 99.69% 9 WP_069622146.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces niveus] 98.76% 10 EST19414.1 hypothetical protein M877_36355 [Streptomyces niveus NCIMB 11891] 98.74% 11 AFS18550.1 ABBA prenyltransferase Ptf_St [Streptomyces tendae] 97.38% 12 WP_078566427.1 prenyltransferase [Streptomyces sp. CNS654] 90.82% 13 WP_109499705.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces sp. Act143] 89.84% 14 WP_017621683.1 hypothetical protein [Nocardiopsis gilva] 89.81% 15 KUN17719.1 hypothetical protein AQJ23_40425 [Streptomyces antibioticus] 88.93% 16 KPI30857.1 Aromatic prenyltransferase, Orf2 [Actinobacteria bacterium OV320] 83.39% 17 WP_037872080.1 aromatic prenyltransferase [Streptomyces sp. NRRL S-37] 81.64% 18 WP_114664513.1 prenyltransferase [Streptomyces sp. GSSD-12] 81.31% 19 WP_067123092.1 prenyltransferase [Streptomyces yokosukanensis] 80.27% 20 WP_114021785.1 prenyltransferase [Candidatus Streptomyces philanthi] 80.07% 21 WP_015662653.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces davaonensis] 78.43% 22 WP_114016600.1 prenyltransferase [Streptomyces sp. LHW50302] 78.43% 23 GCB50864.1 hypothetical protein SNL152K_8211 [Streptomyces sp. NL15-2K] 76.08% 24 WP_124443591.1 prenyltransferase [Streptomyces sp. NL15-2K] 74.58% 25 WP_078582630.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces sp. URHA0041] 73.11% 26 WP_073501789.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces paucisporeus] 73.11% 27 WP_078869665.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces sp. NRRL B-1347] 71.95% 28 WP_063792633.1 prenyltransferase [Streptomyces atriruber] 67.58% 29 WP_150163952.1 prenyltransferase [Streptomyces venezuelae] 66.56% 30 A2AXG5.1 Flaviolin linalyltransferase [Streptomyces cinnamonensis], Fnq26 66.21% 31 WP_150181843.1 prenyltransferase [Streptomyces venezuelae] 65.89% 32 WP_101421563.1 prenyltransferase [Streptomyces sp. CMB-StM0423] 65.80% 33 WP_047018069.1 hypothetical protein [unclassified Streptomyces] 65.57% 34 WP_052770383.1 hypothetical protein [unclassified Streptomyces] 64.47% 35 WP_125936269.1 prenyltransferase [Streptomyces sp. WAC 06738] 64.14% 36 WP_101422827.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces sp. CMB-StM0423] 63.82% 37 AKH86873.1 hypothetical protein AA958_18620 [Streptomyces sp. CNQ-509] 63.57% 38 WP_063790017.1 prenyltransferase [Streptomyces sp. MMG1121] 60.88% 39 WP_078627616.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces sp. CNH099] 60.53% 40 AQU65790.1 hypothetical protein BBN63_05560 [Streptomyces niveus] 60.33% 41 WP_147874937.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces sp. IB2014 016-6] 60.33% 42 WP_142270720.1 prenyltransferase [Streptomyces sp. SLBN-115] 59.86% 43 WP_030308521.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces sp. NRRL F-6131] 59.08% 44 WP_053649621.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces sp. XY431] 58.94% 45 WP_097275187.1 prenyltransferase [Streptomyces sp. TLI_55] 58.89% 46 WP_132804080.1 prenyltransferase [Streptomyces sp. BK042] 58.74% 47 WP_045940576.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces sp. NRRL S-495] 58.61% 48 WP_103552886.1 prenyltransferase [Streptomyces populi] 58.16% 49 WP_030397806.1 hypothetical protein [Kitasatospora] 58.09% 50 WP_067237424.1 prenyltransferase [Streptomyces longwoodensis] 58.01% 51 WP_137304658.1 prenyltransferase [Streptomyces lasaliensis] 57.95% 52 WP_093861400.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces sp. TLI_053] 57.76% 53 WP_026220570.1 aromatic prenyltransferase [Streptomyces vitaminophilus] 57.45% 54 4EE8_A Chain A, Prenyltransferase [Streptomyces cinnamonensis] 57.10% 55 ADQ43372.1 prenyltransferase [Streptomyces cinnamonensis] 57.10% 56 WP_130469611.1 prenyltransferase [Actinopolyspora sp. DSM 45956] 56.79% 57 WP_150173938.1 prenyltransferase [Streptomyces venezuelae] 56.77% 58 WP_063784116.1 prenyltransferase [Streptomyces sp. SBT349] 56.66% 59 WP_146478482.1 prenyltransferase [Streptomyces sp. SSL-25] 56.00% 60 RZU69833.1 aromatic prenyltransferase Orf2 [Actinopolyspora sp. DSM 45956] 55.99% 61 4EE6_A Chain A, Prenyltransferase [Streptomyces cinnamonensis] 55.78% 62 WP_092625972.1 prenyltransferase [Actinopolyspora mzabensis] 55.76% 63 4EE6_B Chain B, Prenyltransferase [Streptomyces cinnamonensis] 55.45% 64 WP_137303681.1 prenyltransferase [Streptomyces galbus] 55.05% 65 AEW22941.1 WT5.12c [Streptomyces sp. WT5] 54.97% 66 WP_139642050.1 prenyltransferase [Streptomyces sedi] 54.85% 67 WP_027750390.1 aromatic prenyltransferase [Streptomyces sp. CNH287] 54.85% 68 WP_055569452.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces atriruber] 54.79% 69 WP_079307203.1 prenyltransferase [Streptomyces sp. GKU 895] 54.73% 70 WP_139674960.1 prenyltransferase [unclassified Streptomyces] 54.70% 71 WP_037700793.1 aromatic prenyltransferase [Streptomyces atratus] 54.33% 72 WP_091645455.1 prenyltransferase [Micromonospora pallida] 54.05% 73 WP_111241504.1 prenyltransferase [Jishengella endophytica] 53.74% 74 WP_122184786.1 prenyltransferase [Streptomyces triticirhizae] 53.69% 75 WP_143644462.1 prenyltransferase [Streptomyces sp. IB201691-2A2] 53.25% 76 WP_095564968.1 prenyltransferase [Plantactinospora sp. KBS50] 53.00% 77 WP_103783028.1 prenyltransferase [Streptomyces sp. Ru71] 52.63% 78 WP_135330626.1 prenyltransferase [Streptomyces sp. MZ04] 52.50% 79 WP_119294080.1 prenyltransferase [Streptomyces sp. YIM 130001] 52.45% 80 OPG09817.1 prenyltransferase [Streptomyces sp. GKU 895] 52.31% 81 WP_078616106.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces sp. 303MFCol5.2] 52.30% 82 WP_132158260.1 prenyltransferase [Actinomadura sp. 7K507] 51.99% 83 WP_079307242.1 prenyltransferase [Streptomyces sp. GKU 895] 51.96% 84 WP_073827930.1 prenyltransferase [Micromonospora sp. TSRI0369] 51.21% 85 WP_040687408.1 aromatic prenyltransferase [Nocardia vinacea] 51.19% 86 WP_150215285.1 prenyltransferase [Streptomyces venezuelae] 51.16% 87 WP_083940321.1 prenyltransferase [Saccharomonospora saliphila] 51.04% 88 WP_104112297.1 prenyltransferase [Micromonospora chalcea] 50.87% 89 EWM63041.1 hypothetical protein MCBG_00174 [Micromonospora sp. M42] 50.87% 90 WP_030499012.1 aromatic prenyltransferase [Micromonospora purpureochromogenes] 50.87% 91 WP_027748955.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces sp. CNH287] 50.79% 92 WP_067309254.1 prenyltransferase [Micromonospora rifamycinica] 50.71% 93 WP_064445539.1 prenyltransferase [Micromonospora sp. NBRC 110037] 50.52% 94 WP_063043013.1 prenyltransferase [Nocardia pseudovaccinii] 50.17% 95 WP_117400900.1 prenyltransferase [Actinomadura sp. LHW52907] 49.83% 96 WP_091651703.1 prenyltransferase [Micromonospora pallida] 49.83% 97 WP_084467029.1 prenyltransferase [Nocardia arthritidis] 49.49% 98 WP_145922251.1 prenyltransferase [Micromonospora sp. HM134] 49.29% 99 WP_141955840.1 prenyltransferase [Actinoallomurus bryophytorum] 49.17% 100 WP_063813137.1 prenyltransferase [Nocardia anaemiae] 49.15% 101 WP_083864015.1 prenyltransferase [Nocardia exalbida] 49.15% 102 WP_121435675.1 prenyltransferase [Actinomadura pelletieri] 49.13% 103 WP_116072936.1 prenyltransferase [Asanoa ferruginea] 49.13% 104 WP_020673231.1 hypothetical protein [Amycolatopsis nigrescens] 49.11% 105 WP_104379267.1 prenyltransferase [Nocardia nova] 48.99% 106 WP_037748550.1 aromatic prenyltransferase [unclassified Streptomyces] 48.97% 107 WP_101420943.1 prenyltransferase [Streptomyces sp. CMB-StM0423] 48.97% 108 WP_145782929.1 prenyltransferase [Streptomyces sp. CNZ287] 48.92% 109 AXO35195.1 hypothetical protein MicB006_2914 [Micromonospora sp. B006] 48.76% 110 WP_049572089.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces sp. SBT349] 48.67% 111 WP_145899200.1 prenyltransferase [Streptomyces sp. CNZ289] 48.62% 112 WP_047016268.1 aromatic prenyltransferase [Streptomyces sp. CNQ-509] 48.56% 113 WP_063619318.1 prenyltransferase [Streptomyces sp. CNH099] 48.56% 114 WP_099926184.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces sp. 70] 48.51% 115 WP_084499306.1 prenyltransferase [Nocardia gamkensis] 48.46% 116 WP_027752515.1 aromatic prenyltransferase [Streptomyces sp. CNH099] 48.44% 117 WP_018839517.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces sp. CNQ766] 48.40% 118 WP_104366678.1 prenyltransferase [Nocardia nova] 48.32% 119 WP_100301149.1 prenyltransferase [Streptomyces sp. CNZ306] 48.28% 120 WP_121433960.1 prenyltransferase [Actinomadura pelletieri] 48.21% 121 WP_063015362.1 hypothetical protein [Corynebacteriales] 47.99% 122 WP_073502277.1 prenyltransferase [Streptomyces paucisporeus] 47.95% 123 WP_063790015.1 prenyltransferase [Streptomyces sp. MMG1121] 47.95% 124 WP_137233316.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces sp. BPSDS2] 47.88% 125 WP_065481562.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces sp. PTY08712] 47.76% 126 WP_145815899.1 prenyltransferase [Micromonospora sagamiensis] 47.75% 127 WP_150521200.1 cupin domain-containing protein [Streptomyces subrutilus] 47.74% 128 WP_039778124.1 aromatic prenyltransferase [Nocardia cerradoensis] 47.65% 129 WP_030517845.1 hypothetical protein [Nocardia sp. NRRL WC-3656] 47.65% 130 WP_027740846.1 aromatic prenyltransferase [Streptomyces sp. CNT371] 47.59% 131 WP_125503295.1 prenyltransferase [unclassified Streptomyces] 47.57% 132 WP_100203158.1 prenyltransferase [Streptomyces carminius] 47.57% 133 WP_101424043.1 prenyltransferase [Streptomyces sp. CMB-StM0423] 47.48% 134 WP_051956317.1 prenyltransferase [Streptomyces atratus] 47.33% 135 WP_063066486.1 hypothetical protein [Nocardia violaceofusca] 47.32% 136 WP_063007124.1 hypothetical protein [Nocardia kruczakiae] 47.32% 137 WP_104364109.1 prenyltransferase [Nocardia nova] 47.32% 138 SUA47165.1 Aromatic prenyltransferase Orf2 [Nocardia africana] 47.32% 139 WP_117399009.1 prenyltransferase [Actinomadura sp. LHW52907] 47.28% 140 WP_049575632.1 aromatic prenyltransferase [Streptomyces sp. SBT349] 47.19% 141 WP_131544751.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces sp. IBTA2] 47.19% 142 WP_036499104.1 hypothetical protein [Nocardia aobensis] 47.18% 143 WP_143644477.1 prenyltransferase [Streptomyces sp. IB201691-2A2] 47.16% 144 WP_083880814.1 prenyltransferase [Nocardia araoensis] 47.10% 145 WP_084489194.1 prenyltransferase [Nocardia niwae] 47.10% 146 WP_125619124.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces sp. WAC04770] 47.06% 147 WP_063920851.1 hypothetical protein [Nocardia mikamii] 46.98% 148 WP_051866258.1 prenyltransferase [Streptomyces griseus] 46.98% 149 WP_053560640.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces sp. CFMR 7] 46.86% 150 WP_106954687.1 prenyltransferase [Nocardia sp. MDA0666] 46.64% 151 XP_025437791.1 hypothetical protein BO95DRAFT_456766 [Aspergillus brunneoviolaceus CBS 621.78] 46.46% 152 WP_084823458.1 prenyltransferase [Nocardia beijingensis] 46.42% 153 WP_097275149.1 prenyltransferase [Streptomyces sp. TLI_55] 46.40% 154 RBL81021.1 hypothetical protein DDE05_47290 [Streptomyces cavourensis] 46.34% 155 WP_073499477.1 prenyltransferase [Streptomyces paucisporeus] 46.26% 156 WP_031521063.1 aromatic prenyltransferase [Streptomyces sp. NRRL F-5123] 46.24% 157 WP_082412569.1 hypothetical protein [Actinobacteria bacterium OV320] 46.23% 158 TCR75458.1 aromatic prenyltransferase Orf2 [Streptomyces sp. BK042] 46.18% 159 SDJ65986.1 Aromatic prenyltransferase Orf2 [Actinopolyspora mzabensis] 46.15% 160 XP_025503118.1 hypothetical protein BO66DRAFT_325070 [Aspergillus aculeatinus CBS 121060] 46.13% 161 WP_040717943.1 hypothetical protein [Nocardia veterana] 46.10% 162 WP_091459402.1 prenyltransferase [Micromonospora inyonensis] 46.08% 163 WP_141973439.1 prenyltransferase [Actinomadura hallensis] 45.58% 164 WP_079073831.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces sp. Root1310] 45.55% 165 WP_078890532.1 hypothetical protein [unclassified Streptomyces] 44.52% 166 XP_001589743.1 hypothetical protein SS1G_09465 [Sclerotinia sclerotiorum 1980 UF-70] 44.37% 167 WP_101421570.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces sp. CMB-StM0423] 44.26% 168 WP_147874947.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces sp. IB2014 016-6] 44.22% 169 PQE07084.1 Aromatic prenyltransferase protein [Rutstroemia sp. NJR-2017a BVV2] 44.11% 170 WP_078616079.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces sp. 303MFCol5.2] 44.00% 171 WP_078899560.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces] 43.88% 172 WP_078074323.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces niveus] 43.88% 173 WP_135330628.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces sp. MZ04] 43.58% 174 WP_063826174.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces antibioticus] 43.54% 175 WP_117358562.1 hypothetical protein [Actinomadura sp. NEAU-G17] 43.45% 176 PVH76557.1 hypothetical protein DL98DRAFT_535616 [Cadophoa sp. DSE1049] 43.45% 177 WP_047018064.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces sp. CNQ-509] 43.39% 178 WP_145784670.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces sp. CNZ287] 43.39% 179 AQU65798.1 hypothetical protein BBN63_05610 [Streptomyces niveus] 43.33% 180 MWA08000.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces sp. BA2] 43.23% 181 CDH35382.1 aromatic prenyltransferase [Streptomyces iakyrus] 43.20% 182 WP_069463857.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces rubidus] 43.15% 183 WP_066951135.1 hypothetical protein [Microtetraspora fusca] 43.10% 184 KJK34409.1 hypothetical protein UK15_36180 [Streptomyces variegatus] 43.07% 185 TVY84701.1 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate 3-dimethylallyltransferase [Lachnellula suecica] 43.00% 186 TGO19921.1 hypothetical protein BTUL_0002g01700 [Botrytis tulipae] 43.00% 187 WP_031138137.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces xanthophaeus] 42.71% 188 KAA8569914.1 hypothetical protein EYC84_002254 [Monilinia fructicola] 42.66% 189 XP_001560463.1 hypothetical protein BCIN_06g02600 [Botrytis cinerea B05.10] 42.66% 190 WP_063619313.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces sp. CNH099] 42.57% 191 WP_133260072.1 hypothetical protein [Streptacidiphilus pinicola] 42.52% 192 KKY13521.1 hypothetical protein UCRPC4_g06967 [Phaeomoniella chlamydospora] 42.41% 193 WP_018840564.1 hypothetical protein [unclassified Streptomyces] 42.33% 194 TGO66701.1 hypothetical protein BOTNAR_0056g00400 [Botryotinia narcissicola] 42.32% 195 WP_078564382.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces sp. CNQ329] 42.32% 196 AFI64508.1 Wt3.9 [Streptomyces sp. WT3] 42.27% 197 CCD48995.1 similar to gi|310689659|pdb|2XM7|A Chain A [Botrytis cinerea T4] 42.22% 198 WP_148356240.1 hypothetical protein [Actinomadura syzygii] 42.21% 199 WP_143644478.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces sp. IB201691-2A2] 42.16% 200 WP_126635119.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces hyalinus] 42.16% 201 KUN17777.1 hypothetical protein AQJ23_40535 [Streptomyces antibioticus] 42.05% 202 WP_018844883.1 hypothetical protein [unclassified Streptomyces] 42.00% 203 WP_103786661.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces sp. Ru71] 41.98% 204 TGO79002.1 hypothetical protein BELL_0046g00010 [Botrytis elliptica] 41.98% 205 TGO61486.1 hypothetical protein BCON_0027g00760 [Botryotinia convoluta] 41.98% 206 WP_078904276.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces xanthophaeus] 41.98% 207 OTA08152.1 hypothetical protein A9Z42_0091200 [Trichoderma parareesei] 41.89% 208 WP_109499726.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces sp. Act143] 41.86% 209 RAG82183.1 hypothetical protein DN069_28980 [Streptacidiphilus pinicola] 41.84% 210 GAO81753.1 hypothetical protein AUD_0713 [Aspergillus udagawae] 41.84% 211 WP_078982086.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces scabrisporus] 41.81% 212 THV47184.1 hypothetical protein BGAL_0329g00100 [Botrytis galanthina] 41.78% 213 WP_100302114.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces sp. CNZ306] 41.67% 214 WP_037751911.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces sp. CNQ-525] 41.67% 215 WP_103552883.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces populi] 41.61% 216 KQX72267.1 hypothetical protein ASD48_39950 [Streptomyces sp. Root1310] 41.61% 217 WP_053666646.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces sp. MMG1121] 41.58% 218 SKA30833.1 Aromatic prenyltransferase Orf2 [Marinactinospora thermotolerans DSM 45154] 41.58% 219 WP_078763101.1 hypothetical protein [Marinactinospora thermotolerans] 41.58% 220 WP_130454911.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces sp. CNZ288] 41.33% 221 WP_145901163.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces sp. CNZ289] 41.33% 222 WP_027745939.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces sp. CNT371] 41.33% 223 WP_055569113.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces atriruber] 41.31% 224 KAB8298687.1 hypothetical protein EYC80_000864 [Monilinia laxa] 41.30% 225 WP_146478483.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces sp. SSL-25] 41.16% 226 WP_122199365.1 hypothetical protein [Actinomadura sp. NEAU-Ht49] 41.14% 227 WP_150213418.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces venezuelae] 41.10% 228 TG083018.1 hypothetical protein BPOR_0718g00070 [Botrytis porri] 40.96% 229 WP_143023025.1 hypothetical protein [Lentzea jiangxiensis] 40.82% 230 XP_001210907.1 predicted protein [Aspergillus terreus NIH2624] 40.82% 231 WP_130468244.1 hypothetical protein [Actinopolyspora sp. DSM 45956] 40.78% 232 WP_049571866.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces sp. SBT349] 40.67% 233 TG041762.1 hypothetical protein BHYA_0017g00730 [Botrytis hyacinthi] 40.61% 234 WP_084510537.1 hypothetical protein [Nocardia lijiangensis] 40.33% 235 TGO19972.1 hypothetical protein BPAE_0327g00150 [Botrytis paeoniae] 40.27% 236 AGS49802.1 hypothetical protein [uncultured bacterium esnapd16.1] 40.21% 237 WP_142270708.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces sp. SLBN-115] 40.13% 238 WP_150163951.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces venezuelae] 40.07% 239 WP_150181842.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces venezuelae] 40.00% 240 WP_078627940.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces sp. CNH099] 40.00% 241 KOV57748.1 hypothetical protein ADK64_38125 [Streptomyces sp. MMG1121] 40.00% 242 XP_024752719.1 hypothetical protein BBK36DRAFT_1111187 [Trichoderma citrinoviride] 39.93% 243 WP_101420456.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces sp. CMB-StM0423] 39.93% 244 WP_091373094.1 hypothetical protein [Alloactinosynnema album] 39.93% 245 TEY79915.1 hypothetical protein BOTCAL_0040g00320 [Botryotinia calthae] 39.87% 246 MWA09138.1 prenyltransferase [Streptomyces sp. BA2] 39.86% 247 XP_020123439.1 hypothetical protein UA08_01803 [Talaromyces atroroseus] 39.67% 248 XP_002847323.1 NovQ [Microsporum canis CBS 113480] 39.65% 249 WP_078627401.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces sp. CNH099] 39.60% 250 WP_043384953.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces luteus] 39.54% 251 WP_104481745.1 cupin domain-containing protein [Actinokineospora auranticolor] 39.40% 252 TQL97062.1 aromatic prenyltransferase Orf2 [Actinoallomurus bryophytorum] 39.27% 253 WP_157429804.1 hypothetical protein [Actinomadura oligospora] 39.25% 254 WP_146478483.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces sp. SSL-25] 39.19% 255 WP_141955833.1 hypothetical protein [Actinoallomurus bryophytorum] 39.14% 256 WP_141955837.1 hypothetical protein [Actinoallomurus bryophytorum] 39.02% 257 PMD17248.1 hypothetical protein NA56DRAFT_648701 [Pezoloma ericae] 38.75% 258 WP_063784117.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces sp. SBT349] 38.56% 259 WP_084496655.1 hypothetical protein [Nocardia amamiensis] 38.51% 260 WP_078899998.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces sp. SBT349] 38.19% 261 WP_092625293.1 hypothetical protein [Actinopolyspora mzabensis] 38.02% 262 CAL34106.1 putative prenyltransferase [Streptomyces cinnamonensis] 37.99% 263 WP_078560068.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces sp. CNT371] 37.67% 264 TCO55794.1 aromatic prenyltransferase Orf2 [Actinocrispum wychmicini] 37.65% 265 KJZ73749.1 hypothetical protein HIM_06867 [Hirsutella minnesotensis 3608] 37.63% 266 CEL03594.1 hypothetical protein ASPCAL04746 [Aspergillus calidoustus] 37.50% 267 OOQ89743.1 hypothetical protein PEBR_07177 [Penicillium brasilianum] 37.41% 268 PYH97268.1 hypothetical protein BO71DRAFT_468204 [Aspergillus ellipticus CBS 707.79] 37.41% 269 KAE9377664.1 hypothetical protein N431DRAFT_527667 [Chalara longipes BDJ] 37.37% 270 KUL90715.1 hypothetical protein ZTR_00003 [Talaromyces verruculosus] 37.16% 271 GAM39384.1 hypothetical protein TCE0_034r10891 [Talaromyces cellulolyticus] 36.64% 272 PCH00031.1 hypothetical protein PENOC_055060 [Penicillium sp. occitanis'] 36.64% 273 WP_069462248.1 hypothetical protein [Streptomyces rubidus] 36.51% 274 PQE21594.1 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate 3-DMAPP transferase protein [Rutstroemia sp. NJR-2017a] 36.46% 275 OQD84936.1 hypothetical protein PENANT_c011G06136 [Penicillium antarcticum] 36.15% 276 PQE13805.1 Chain A like protein [Rutstroemia sp. NJR-2017a BBW] 36.11% 277 RAO64565.1 hypothetical protein BHQ10_000577 [Talaromyces amestolkiae] 35.96% 278 CRG83396.1 hypothetical protein PISL3812_00747 [Talaromyces islandicus] 35.91% 279 KAA8647038.1 putative secondary metabolism biosynthetic enzyme [Aspergillus tanneri] 35.89% 280 XP_018062656.1 hypothetical protein LY89DRAFT_339943 [Phialocephala scopiformis] 35.62% 281 KIM97227.1 hypothetical protein OIDMADRAFT_20473 [Oidiodendron maius Zn] 35.52% 282 PQE15082.1 Aromatic prenyltransferase protein [Rutstroemia sp. NJR-2017a BVV2] 35.02% 283 KJX93611.1 Chain A like protein [Zymoseptoria brevis] 34.71% 284 KFX50527.1 Aromatic prenyltransferase NovQ [Talaromyces marneffei PM1] 34.65% 285 XP_024705102.1 hypothetical protein P170DRAFT_358697 [Aspergillus steynii IBT 23096] 33.67% 286 KIM92739.1 hypothetical protein OIDMADRAFT_139131 [Oidiodendron maius Zn] 33.57% 287 PVH96444.1 hypothetical protein DM02DRAFT_569563 [Periconia macrospinosa] 33.33% 288 MAR13547.1 hypothetical protein [Blastopirellula sp.] 32.75% 289 RDW66932.1 hypothetical protein BP5796_09681 [Coleophoma crateriformis] 32.00% 290 RDW62099.1 hypothetical protein BP6252_11532 [Coleophoma cylindrospora] 30.87% 291 POS72278.1 hypothetical protein DHEL01_v209327 [Diaporthe helianthi] 27.36% 292 ROW05052.1 hypothetical protein VSDG_00518 [Valsa sordida] 27.36% 293 ROV99468.1 hypothetical protein VMCG_06385 [Valsa malicola] 26.71% 294 KKY34764.1 hypothetical protein UCDDA912_g05266 [Diaporthe ampelina] 26.69% 295 KUI68523.1 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate 3-dimethylallyltransferase [Valsa mali] 25.26%

[0122] Also described herein are polypeptides encoding enzymes that are typically O-methyltransferases. These polypeptides are typically derived from plants and find use in converting phenolic compounds into compounds with medicinal activity and/or precursors to such compounds. For example, described herein are polypeptides comprising one or more of the following sequences, variants thereof, or fragments of the polypeptides or variants. In the following sequences, amino acid sequences and GenBank accession numbers of O-methyltransferases from Cannabis sativa are shown.

TABLE-US-00003 >CsOMT1[PK03555] SEQIDNO:7 MEADGEDAVLRGQVEIWKYMLSFADSMALKCAVELQLADIIHSHTSPITLSQIASAIPGATSPDLSCLARIMRLLVR RRIFTQHQKPKSDGEEEEALYGPTHSSRWLLTKINDHDQLTLAPMILMENDPRLMAPWHCFSRCVKEGGVAFKKAHN GQSIWEFGAENPEINKLENDAMECTAKVVMKAILSHYSDGGFSDIKSMVDVGGGTGGSISEIVRSYPHIKGINEDLP HVIATAPPYSGVSHVGGDMERSVPTADAIFMKWILHDWSDEDCVKILKNCRKAIAEESGKVIIVESVLEEESNNNNN NNEVFGDTALMLDLVMVAHTTGGKERTQKQWKTILEQGGFPRYNFIKIKALPSIIEAYPN >CSOMT2[PK03696] SEQIDNO:8 SELLFQAQTHLYNHTLSYISSMCLKCAIELGIPDIINNHGQPHIPLPQLVSSLRLPPTKTDILRRLMRPLVHFGYFT TTKVVINSQNKEEEEEEVDAYGLTSSSKLLFVNNNGNNKIPSMSTIVCLQLDQAFMTPWHSLGNWLRKDEATTLFES AHEMSFWEYTSKNTKFGHLFNEAMADDSKLMLKLVIEDVKPVFEGLTSLVDVGGGTGEVCKILTQVFPHLKCSVLEL SHVVANLPNAQNLKFIEGDMFQAIPPANAVLLKWILHNWSDEECVTILKKCREAIASNEGGKVVIIDVVINSKKDEH EVNEAKISFDLMMMVLENGRERSQKEWENLFFKAGFTRYKITPIFGLESLIEVFP >CSOMT3[PK04621] SEQIDNO:9 MASAVKGAILAIDNEASFQDQAEIWKYMLNFGDSMALKCAVELRLPDILHSADGPMTLSEIAAAIPNAPSPQASHLE RVLRLLVRRKIFTSEEDKVSGETLYGPTKLSSWLLHEPAPTSDSDASIMTLAPMLIMENHPWHVDPWHKLSEFIREG GLAPFEKEHGYMFDFAAKNPLYNKLLNNAMACTARITIRTLLSHCGDDLENGVGSVVDVGGGTGRFISEIVKSYPHI KGINFDRSHVISTAPAYPGVTHIGGDMFQEVPSADAVVTKWVLHDWGDELCVKLLKNCRKAIPEKGGKVIIVDIVVE ADGEGLEDDTGVVEDVLMLAHNTGGKERTEKEWKSLLDQSGFPRYKITKIPALQSVIEAYPN >CSOMT4[PK05994] SEQIDNO:10 MMSSINDNTITTTQQLSLGYVNLYKHMLSYASSMALKSAVELGIPDIIFNKGKAQTISLHELVSALQIPPSRTNFLR RVMRVLVHSGIFTNEKGYNDDKEEEEVYGLTPSSKLLLTNGNNSEVPSVGPFVLSVLEPVTVTAFHLIGNWLKNEDS PATPFHLANDDGLGLYEYWGKNTDGFGDRLNEGMESDSGTLKFVLKNFKSTFEGITTLVDVGGNTGTMCKMLIEAFP HLKCSVFDLPYVVEANSHNNTENLKFIEGDMFQTIPEADAILFKLVLCGCSDDESIKILKNCREAISRNGKGKVLII ENNVINSEKDELLELEAKLYFDMLLLASVTGRERSKKDWENIFFQAGFTHYEITPMFGLEALIEVEP >CSOMT5[PK07724] SEQIDNO:11 MDALSRDQAEIFEHMESFVDSMALKCAVELRIADIIHSQDCPISLTQIASKIITNSHNSPMISSSPDNNTMLYLNRI MTSLVRKKIFTAQYDHDQNNNQTVLYYGVTSKSRWLLRDAKPSLAPLILMENHPIQMAPWHYFSHIIKDQEGSATAY EKAHGCGIFELASVNGELNKIFNDGMACLGEMVMGAILPAYDVFGCMGSLVDVGGGIGGDLAEIVKSHPHIKGINED LPHVTATAPESNGVTHVAGNMFESVPSADAIFIKWVLHDWCDEECVKILRNCRKAIPEKNGKVIIVEIVLKDSSQNK ENDDVEDETRMIFDMVMMAHTCRGKERTEFEWKKLLEEAGFPRYKITKIPAIPSIIEAYPF >CSOMT6[PK08183] SEQIDNO:12 MAPTQISEELEASLFAMQLAGTSSILPMVLKTALELDLLEIIAMAGPNAFLSPSDIAAQLPTNNPNASMMLDRMLRL LASYNVLTYLLRDKVTSDGKVLVERLYGLAPLSKELTKNEDGASIAPLCLMVQDKVEMESWYHLKDAILDGGIAFDK AHGMPAFKYNQIDKRENKIFNKGMFDHSSITMKKILETYKGFEGLNSMVDVGGGSGAVLSMIVTKYPSIKGINFDLH HVIEDAPPFPGVAHVGGDMFVSVPKGDAIFIKWICHDWSDEDCLKLLKNCYDAVPHHGKVIVAEFILSVAPDSSLAA KCTAHSDMIMLVDHGGKERTQKEFEELAKAAGFKGFKVVCNAFNTYIMEFLKTN >CSOMT7[PK08793] SEQIDNO:13 MAVETHKDELIWIPKEDEEERARVDIYKYIFGFVEMAVVKCAIELGIADAIESHGRPMSLLELSSALGCAAPALHRI MRFLTNRKLFKEIRINENVQDSEQPSLYAQTALSRLILRSGEKSMATFVLMESSPPMLAPWHGLSARVKTEVDDSSA PSPFEVANGKDVWSYAAANPGHSQLINEAMACNARVTVAAILDGCLDVEDGIGTIVDVGGGNGTALRMLVRACPWIR GINFDLPHVVSVALKSEGVEHVGGDMFKFVPKADAAFLMSVLHDWEDDECIQILKKCREAIPGDKGKVIMVECVIEE NNNNVEEKHEELELKDVGLFLDMVMIAHTNKGKERTLEEWAYVLAQAGENRYNIRAINAIYSIIEAFPN >CSOMT8[PK10317] SEQIDNO:14 MAKMQEGGDHHDELTCRAKEEDEQEEERARIDIYKYVEGFVEMAVVKCAIELGIADTIECHGRPMSLKELSSALGCT PHNIHRIMRELVNRRIFKEIKNDIVNDEGAGTLYVQTSLSRLLIKSGERSMASFVLMESSKPMLAPWHCLSSRLKAE VIDNSLTPFEEANGQDLWSYTAANPEHSQLLNEAMACNARVTVAAILDSCLEVEDGVGSIVDVGGGNGTAMQLLVKG CPWIKEGILFDLPHVVSVALKSDRVVHVGGDMEDSVPKADAAFLMWVLHDWEDKDCIQILKNCREAISEKGKVIIVE SVIENNKEQNNGMKKDELEFKDVGLFLDMVMMAHTNKGKERTLDQWVYVLHQAGFTRYNVRSIKGAISSLIEAFPI >CSOMT9[PK10819] SEQIDNO:15 MEKLKSFSYLNNNIDLAMNEENNTKLLGAQAHIWNQIENFINSMCLKCAVELGIPDIINNYGKPMTISQLTLALSIN KNKFHCLYRLMRLLTHSGFFALEKVEIEGEKEEEGYVITEASKLLLKDNPMSVTPFLLLVLNPILTKSFDVLDTWFQ NDSPTPFDTANGRTFWDYGSHEPKLVQLENDGMASDARLVTSVVIEKCKGVFEGVERLVDVGGGTGTVAKSIATAFP QIECSVLDLPHVVADLEDENNLKFIGGDMFVEIPTADVVLLKWILHDWNDEESVKILKNCREAVYKSKKKSGKLIII DMNIKNDNNENSFETQLFFDMLMMALVSGRERNEKEWSKLFKDAGFSRYKITPILGLRFVIEVYP >CSOMT10[PK11500] SEQIDNO:16 MDGIQEGDHHDELTLRLNEKEEEERARIDIYKYVEGFVEMAVVKCAIELGIADTIESHGRPISLLDLSSALSCNPHN LHRIMRFLVNRRIFKEIKNDTVNDKGCLYVQTSLSRLLIKSGERSMASFVLMESSNPMLAPWHGLSARVKAEATDAL TPFEAANGVDVWSYAAANPDHSQLINEAMACNARVTVAAILNGCLDVFDGVGSIVDVGGGNGTTLQLLVKGCPWINQ GINFDLPHVVSVALKSDGVVHVGGDMEDSVPKADAAFLMWVLHDWGDQECIQILKKCKEAIPEKGKVIIVESVIENN KLEENVMKKELELKDVGLFLDMTMMAHTNKGKERSLDEWVYVLHQAGFTRYNVRSIDGAVSSVIEAFPA >CSOMT11[PK12774] SEQIDNO:17 MGSISENTTTLELSQGYVNVYKHMLSYASSMALKCAIQLHIPDIIFTKGKDQTITLPELASALQIPPSRISCLRRVM RVLVHSGIFSNKNQHDDDKTEEEEVYGLTSSSKILLTGGNNNGVPSVGGYVLAVLEPVTVTAFHLIGSWLKKESPRT PFHLANDEGLSLYEYWGKNIDGFGDRLDEGMESDSGVLKFVLKDLKSSFEDITTLVDVGGNTGSMCMMLIEEFPHLK CTVEDLPYAIEANSHNSTSNLKFVEGDMFQSTFPEADAFLLKSVLSGCSDEECVKILKNCGEAISRNGGGKVMVIDN NVINTKNDEAAELEAKLYFDMLFMTALTGRERTKKDYENIFYQAGFTRIKITRMFGLKSLIEGEL >CSOMT12[PK13022] SEQIDNO:18 MTTPTQMSEELEANYLFAMKLASATVLPMVLKTALELGLLEIIVMAGPGAFLSPSNIVAQLPTKNPNAPVMLDRMLR LLASYNVLTYSIRDGERLYGMTPLSKFLTKNEGGLSIAPLCHMDQDKVIIDCWYHMKDAVLDGGIPENKAHGMPIFE YTQRDQRLNKIVNRAMSTLSTIIMKNILETYNGFKGLNSIVDVGGGTGATLSMIIAKYPSIKGINFDLHHVIQHAPP LPGVEHVSGDMFVSVPKGDAIFMKRICHDWSDEECLKLLKNCYDALDDDGKVIVEELIVPAAPDSSPSTKNSFHYDI LMMVNLNGKERTQKEYEQLAMEAGFKAFKIHCIAFNSYIMEFLAKGPKVEWSVRVPPLL >CSOMT13[PK15692] SEQIDNO:19 MESSQLRGQELICQLIFSYYNTMALKCAVELRIADIIHSHGKPITISQIASDIQSNSNSKSPINIDNLFRIMRILVR KGVFIEHHDDDHGDSTISLYGLCDSSRCLLWDFDSSLVPFILLNTHPLMMASSHNFGKSVIGDKGNPFENDQDVWSF ASNNPIFNKLENDAMISGSHMVLRHVLSTYKDSFNCIKGTMVDVGGGVGQVISEIVKSHRHIKGINFDLPHVIATAP TYDGVTHVGGDMFESIPSADVVFLKWIIHGWNDDACVKILKNCRKAIGEKKNGKIIIVDMVLDPNSNEIFQETRLAM DLVMLANSNNGKERTELEWKKLLNEAGFSRYKITKNQNILDIIEAFPF >CSOMT14[PK17162] SEQIDNO:20 MGSINENTITTTQELSQGYVNLYKHMLSYASSMALKSAVELGIPDIIFTKGKAQTISLHELVSALQIPPSRTNELRR VMRVLVHSGIFTNEKGYNDDKEEEEVYGLTPSSKLLLTGGKNNGVPSVGPYVLAVLEPVTVTAFGSIGNWLKKESPT TPFHLANDEGLSLYEYWGKNTDGFGDRLNEGMESDSGVLKFVLKDFKSVFEGITTLVDVGGNTGLMCKMLLEAFPHL QCSVYDLAYAVDANSHNNTQNLKFIEGDMFQTVPQADAILFKCVLSGCSDEECTKILKNCRDAISRNGGGKVLIIDN NVINSKTEDHLAMETLLYEDMLMMTALTGRERTKKDWEKIFFEAGFSSCKVTPMFGVKTLIEVEP >CSOMT15[PK19674.1] SEQIDNO:21 MGSELEGTTEVVVDLKRKQEEESFCYAAQLLNTNVLTKSLQTTIELGIFDIIAKAGEGGKLSAREIVAQLPTNNPDA PMMVDRILRMLASYSVLVCSVVADDQRAYSLNNVSKCFVTNEDGVSLGPLMLLLEDKVESDSWSQLKGAILEGGIPF NRFHGMNAFEYPALDSRENKVENRAMQSMTTMLAKQTIESYKGFENLKQLVDVGGGLGVTLKEITSTYPHIKGINED LPHVVQHAPSYPGVEHVGGDMFESVPSGDAIFMKWILHDWSDEQCVKVLKNCYKAIPENGKVIVMEGLLPMLPEASY GDNIMSKTDVLMMTQNPGGKERSKQEFQALASGAGENGIRFECCVSGFWIMEFFK >CsOMT16[PK19674.2] SEQIDNO:22 MAPPSEELANTPQIVNDERKQEEENFAYAAQLVNSSVLSMSLQSAIELGVEDIIAKAGDAAKLSAQDIVAQMPTTNP DAPRMLDRILRMLASHSVLACSLENEDLRVYCLNDVSKLFVTNEDGVSLGPLMLLQDKVELDSWSQLKGAILEGGIP FNRVHGMHAFEYPSLDQKFNQVENKAMYNQTTLVLKKILEVYKGFENLEKVVDVGGGLGGTLNQITSKYPHIKGINF DLPHVVEHAPSYPGVEHVGGDMFESVPTGAIFMKWILHDWSDEHCLKLLKNCYKAIPDNGNVIVMEAILPTIPETNS ADRCTSQTDVLMMTQNPGGKERSKQEFQALASGAGENGIRFECCVSGEWIMEFFK >CSOMT17[PK19674.3] SEQIDNO:23 MMGSDQLEVIVDLKRPKQEESFCYALQLLSTNILIKSLQATVELGIFDIIAKAGEGSKLSAAEIVAQLPTNNPDAVM MVDRILRMLAGHSVLTCSVVADNPRVYSHNTVSKCFVTDEDGVSLGSLISLLDDKVYSDSWSQLKGAILEGGIPENR LHGMNSFEYTALDSRENKVENRAMQSMTTMIAKQTIESYKGFENLKQLVDVGGGLGVTLKEITSTYPHIKGINEDLP HVVQHAPSYPGVEHVGGDMFESVPSGDAIFMKWILHDWSDEQCVKVLKNCYKAIPENGKVIVMEGLLPMLPEASYGD NIMSKTDVLMMTQNPGGKERSKQEFQALASGAGENGIRFECCVSGFWIMEFFK >CSOMT18[PK19674.4] SEQIDNO:24 MAPPSEELANTPQIVNDERKQEEENFAYAAQLVNSSVLSMSLQSAIELGVEDIIAKAGDAAKLSAQDIVAQMPTTNP DAPRMLDRILRMLASHSVLACSLENEDLRVYCLNDVSKLFVTNEDGVSLGPLMSLLQDKVELDSWSQLKGAILEGGI PFNRVHGMHAFEYPSLDQKENQVENKAMYNQTTLVLKKILEVYKGFENLEKVVDVGGGLGGTLNQITSKYPHIKGIN FDLPHVVEHAPSYPGVEHVGGDMFESVPTGDAIFMKWILHDWSDEHCLKLLKNCYKAIPDNGNVIVMEAILPTIPET NSADRCTSQTDVLMMTQNPGGKERSKKEFLALATGAGFSGIRFECFVCNEMIMEFYK >CSOMT19[PK19715] SEQIDNO:25 MEKSRNSSSHVDLVVNEDNNTKLLRAQAHIWNHICKFINSMSLKCAIELGIPDIVNNHGKPMTISQLTLALPINKNK SHCLYRLMRLLTHSGFFALEKTEIKGEEEEEGYVITEASKLLLKDNPMSVTPLLLVLLDPTLTKPYDVLSTWERNDD STPFVTTNGMAIWDYYSHEPKLAQSENEAMASDARLVTSVLIEKCKGVFEGVDSLVDVGGGTGTVAKSIATTEPQIQ CSVLDLPHVVAGLQGEKNLNFIAGDMFVEVPTAQVVLLKWILHDWSDENSVKILKKCKEAITKSGKKIGKVVVIDMI IENEKGEIDDESYETQLFMDMTMTLVSGRERNEKELSKLFKDAGFSHYKITPILGLRSLIEIYP >CSOMT20[PK23308] SEQIDNO:26 MEKLKSFRHLNNNIDLVLNEENSIELLRAQGHIWNQIENFINSMSLKCAIQLGIPDIINNYGKPMTISQLKLALPIN QKKSSCVYRLMRILTHSNFFALQKVEGREGEEEEEGYVITDASKLLLKDNPMSVTPFLLAMLDPVITKPWDFLSNWE QNDDPTPFDTANGMTFWDYGSHQPNLARFFNDAMASDARLVTSVVIEKCRWVFEGVESLVDVGGGTGTVATTIATSE PQIQCSVLDLPHVVADLQGANNLVNFIGGDMFVEVPPAEVVLLKWILHDWNDEESVKILKKCKEAITKNNKKGGKVI IIDMKVENEKDEDDESYETQLFFDMLMMALVTGKERNEKEWAKLFKDAGESDYKITPILGLRSLIEVYP >CSOMT21[PK24150] SEQIDNO:27 MGSTGIETQMTPTQISDEEANLFAMQLASASVLPMVLKAALELDLLEIIAKAGPGAFLSPSDIAQQLPTQNPDAPVM LDRMLRLLASYNVVTYSLRERETAEEEGKVERLYGLAPVSKYLTKNEDGVSIAPLCLMNQDKVLMESWYHLKDAVLD GGIPFNKAYGMTAFEYHGTDQRENKIFNRGMSDHSTITMKKILETYKGFEGLNSIVDVGGGTGAVVNMIVSKYPTIK GINFDLPHVIEDAPPLTGVEHVGGDMFVSVPKGDAIFMKWICHDWSDEHCLKELKNCHAALPEHGKVIVAECILPVA PDSSLATKSTVHIDVIMLAHNPGGKERTEKEFEALAKGAGEKGFKVHCNAFNTHIMEFLKTI >CSOMT22[PK27112] SEQIDNO:28 MNLIMGEGELVSCRELVEAQELIYNCSLSHIKPMSLKCAIELGIPDIIHNHGQPITLSKLISSLPIHPSKAHCIHRL MRILVHFGFFTTQLLLPQQQEETYSLTLASKLFLKDCPIKATPFFLVQLNPLLLKPWHELSTWLQKGEDDDDHPSTP FEMANGINFWDGVGNDPMVKYMFTEAMATDSYLMSKVIVEEGKEVFEGLSSLVDVGGGTGIMANAIVEAFTNIKCTV LDLPYIVADLKGTHNLNFVEGDMFKKIPSANAVLLKWTLHDWNDEEVVVILKKCREAIWSKDKGGKVIVIDMVIDDD EEPKSSVETQLCFDMLMMVNLTGKERNEKEWENLFLAAGESHYKINPIVGERSLIEVEP >CSOMT23[PK27154] SEQIDNO:29 MEKLKSFRHLNNNIDLVLNEENSIELLGAQGHIWNQIFNFINSMSLKCAIQLGIPDIVNNYRKPMTISQLVLALPIN QKKSPCVYRLMRILIHSGFFALQKVEGGGEGEEEEGYVITDASKLLLKDNPMSVTPFLLSMLDPVMTKPWDELSNWE QNDDPTPFDTANGMTFWDYGSHQPNLARFENDAMASDARLVTSVVIEKCKWVFEGVESLVDVGGGTGTVATSIATNE PQIQCTVLDLPHVVADLQGGNNLNFVGGDMFVEVPTAEVVLLKWILHDWNDEESVKILKKCKEAIMKSKKKGGKVII IDMKVENEKDEDDESYETQLFFDMLMMTLLTGKERNEKEWAKLFKDAGESDYKITPILGLRSVIEVYP >CSOMT24[PK29262] SEQIDNO:30 MQKGQKGCQINQIPMSIERNNVEEDESFFYAVELRSSVVLPMSLYATIELGVFEILAKAGDGAKLSSSDIASHLPTE NPDAPMMLDRILTLLASHSVLDCVVVGEGSSMRKLYSLSPVSKHELPKEDGVSSHALMKLGLDKVSLESWFELKNAV LEGGTSFKRAHGMNVFEYGKSDSRFGEVENSAMYNQAKIVTKKIIESYKGFENNIKTLVDVGGGFGVTVSLIVSKYP QIKAINFDLPHVIKNAPTYPGVEHVGGDMFEKIPNGDAIFMKWILHDWNDEDCVKILKKCYEAIPSNGKVIVVDMVV PIMAETTHKAKSIFQLDLVMLSQNPGGKERNQHEFQAIANAAGESTINFACSIENVKVIEFIK

[0123] The variants of the polypeptides described herein may have any degree of sequence identity to the polypeptides, provided they retain some degree of native activity, for example prenyltransferase or O-methyltransferase activity. For example, the variants typically have at least about 70%, about 71%, about 72%, about 73%, about 74%, about 75%, about 76%, about 77%, about 78%, about 79%, about 80%, about 81%, about 82%, about 83%, about 84%, about 85%, about 86%, about 87%, about 88%, about 89%, about 90%, about 91%, about 92%, about 93%, about 94%, about 95%, about 96%, about 97%, about 98%, about 99%, or about 99.5% sequence identity.

[0124] Likewise, the fragments of the polypeptides or variants described herein may have any length, provided they retain some degree of native activity, for example, prenyltransferase or O-methyltransferase activity. For example, the fragments may be missing about 1, about 2, about 3, about 4, about 5, about 6, about 7, about 8, about 9, about 10, about 11, about 12, about 13, about 14, about 15, about 16, about 17, about 18, about 19, about 20, about 21, about 22, about 23, about 24, about 25, about 26, about 27, about 28, about 29, about 30, about 31, about 32, about 33, about 34, about 35, about 36, about 37, about 38, about 39, about 40, about 41, about 42, about 43, about 44, about 45, about 46, about 47, about 48, about 49, about 50, about 60, about 70, about 80, about 90, about 100, about 125, about 150, about 175, about 200, or about 250 amino acid residues as compared to the polypeptide in question.

[0125] The polypeptides, variants, and fragments described herein may also be fused to other polypeptides and could, therefore comprise additional amino acid residues, such as for example about 1, about 2, about 3, about 4, about 5, about 6, about 7, about 8, about 9, about 10, about 11, about 12, about 13, about 14, about 15, about 16, about 17, about 18, about 19, about 20, about 21, about 22, about 23, about 24, about 25, about 26, about 27, about 28, about 29, about 30, about 31, about 32, about 33, about 34, about 35, about 36, about 37, about 38, about 39, about 40, about 41, about 42, about 43, about 44, about 45, about 46, about 47, about 48, about 49, about 50, about 60, about 70, about 80, about 90, about 100, about 125, about 150, about 175, about 200, about 250, about 300, about 400, about 500, about 600, about 700, about 800, about 900, or about 1000 or more additional amino acids.

[0126] The polypeptides described herein may comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of the sequences of SEQ ID NO:1-30, or those represented by the accessions in Table 1, and typically encode an enzyme. Typically, the enzyme prenylates a polyphenol, such as a flavonoid, stilbenoid or bibenzyl in the presence of GPP, DMAPP or FPP. In other aspects, the enzyme adds a methyl radical to a polyphenol, such as a flavonoid, stilbenoid or bibenzyl.

[0127] The polypeptides described herein are typically expressed in a host cell or organism, such as a bacterium, an archaeon, a yeast, a protozoon, an alga, a fungus, or a plant, including single cells and cell cultures of any thereof for enzymatically acting on a molecule present in the host cell or organism or its cell culture medium. The polypeptides described herein may instead be used in a cell-free system for acting on a molecule present in the system.

[0128] In embodiments, the hosts described herein endogenously express and/or are engineered to express at least one nucleic acid coding for an aromatic prenyltransferase polypeptide that is suitable for prenylating a polyphenol, such as a flavonoid, a stilbenoid or a bibenzyl or variants thereof using geranyl diphosphate (GPP), or dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP), or farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) (or variants of either thereof) to produce a prenylated polyphenol, such as a prenylated flavonoid, a stilbenoid or a bibenzyl, or variants thereof. In other embodiments, the engineered host expresses at least one nucleic acid coding for an O-methyltransferase polypeptide that is suitable for methylating a polyphenol, such as a flavonoid, a stilbenoid or a bibenzyl or variants thereof using a methyl (CH3) donor molecule such as S-adenosyl methionine to produce a methylated polyphenol, such as a methoxy-flavonoid, methoxy-stilbenoid or methoxy-bibenzyl, or variants thereof.

[0129] Host cells described herein can be any cell capable of producing at least one protein described herein and include bacterial, fungal (including yeast), animal, algal, and plant cells. The cells may be prokaryotic or eukaryotic. Typical host cells are bacterial, yeast, algal and plant cells. In a typical embodiment, the plant cell is a seed cell, in particular, a cell in a cotyledon or endosperm of a seed. In one embodiment, the cell is a bacterial cell. An example of a bacterial cell useful as a host cell of the present invention is Escherichia coli, Synechococcus spp. (also known as Synechocystis spp.), for example, Synechococcus elongatus. Examples of algal cells useful as host cells of the present invention include, for example, Chlorella sp., Chlamydomonas sp. (for example, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii), Dunaliella sp., Haematococcus sp., Schizochytrium sp., and Volvox sp.

[0130] Further exemplary prokaryotic and eukaryotic host cell species are described in more detail below. However, it will be appreciated that other species not specifically described may be suitable.

[0131] For example, a recombinant host can be an Ascomycete. A recombinant host can be of a genus selected from the group consisting of Aspergillus, Candida, Pichia, Saccharomyces, and Zygosaccharomyces. A recombinant host can be a photosynthetic microorganism. A recombinant host can be a cyanobacterium selected from the group consisting of Synechocystis, Synechococcus, Athrospira (Spirulina), Anabaena, Rhodopseudomonas. For example, the organism can be of a genus selected from the group consisting of Chlamydomonas, Dunaliella, Chlorella, Botryococcus, Nannochloropsis, Physcomitrella and Ceratodon.

[0132] Thus, it will be understood that the polypeptides described herein can be expressed in a variety of expression host cells e.g., bacteria, yeasts, mammalian cells, plant cells, and algal cells, or cell-free expression systems. In one embodiment, described herein are expression vectors comprising the coding DNA sequence for the polypeptides described herein for the expression and purification of the recombinant polypeptide produced from a protein expression system using host cells selected from, e.g., bacteria, mammalian, insect, yeast, or plant cells. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid can be subcloned into a recombinant expression vector that is appropriate for the expression of fusion polypeptide in bacteria, mammalian, yeast, or plant cells or a cell-free expression system such as the wheat germ cell-free expression system or a rabbit reticulocyte expression system. Examples of expression vectors and host cells are the Pichia expression vectors pPICZ, pPICZ, pFLD and pFLD (Invitrogen) for expression in P. pastoris and vectors pMET and pMET for expression in P. methanolica; pYES2/GS and pYD1 (Invitrogen) vectors for expression in yeast S. cerevisiae; pET system vectors (Novagen); pGEX (Promega) for expression in E. coli; pBIN and pCAMBIA vectors for expression in plant cells; the strong CMV promoter-based pcDNA3.1 (Invitrogen) and pCINE0 vectors (Promega) for expression in mammalian cell lines such as CHO, COS, HEK-293, Jurkat, and MCF-7; replication incompetent adenoviral vector vectors pADENO-X, pAd5F35, pLP-ADENO-X-CMV (CLONTECH), pAd/CMV/V5-DEST, pAd-DEST vector (Invitrogen) for adenovirus-mediated gene transfer and expression in mammalian cells; pLenti4A/5-DEST, pLenti6A/5-DEST, and pLenti6.2/V5-GW/lacZ (Invitrogen) for lentivirus-mediated gene transfer and expression in mammalian cells; BACpak6 baculovirus (Clontech) and pFASTBAC HT (Invitrogen) for the expression in S. frugiperda 9 (Sf9), Sf11, Tn-368 and BTI-TN-5B4-1 insect cell lines.

[0133] In some embodiments, cell-free systems can include in vitro enzymatic reactions performed in tubes, columns, chips or any other solid support or surface where the prenyltransferase or O-methyltransferase polypeptide described herein is present in solution or immobilized in a resin or another solid support matrix. A range of reversible physical adsorption and ionic linkages, to irreversible stable covalent bonds exist to produce immobilized enzymes. Such techniques include: (a) physical adsorption (for example with cellulose crystals, sol-gel silica, hydroxyapatite, activated carbon, TiO.sub.2 nanoparticles, polyethersulphone membrane, or Ni-/Co-/Zn-nitrilotriacetic acid-agarose); (b) entrapment (for example with agarose or chitosan); and (c) covalent attachment/cross-linking (for example using polyaniline, polystyrene, polyvinyl alcohol, polypropylene, silica gel, bentonite, magnetic nanoparticles, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, reduced graphene oxide, cellulose-poly(acrylic acid) fibers, graphene oxide-Fe3O4, polyacrylonitrile-multi-walled carbon nanotubes, silica-graphene oxide particles).

[0134] Thus, in embodiments, the host cells or cell-free systems described herein are suitable for producing a substantially pure prenylated and/or methylated flavonoid, a prenylated and/or methylated stilbenoid or a prenylated and/or methylated bibenzyl, in the presence of at least an aromatic prenyltransferase or an O-methyltransferase polypeptide, such as those represented by SEQ ID:1-30 or those represented by the accessions in Table 1 (or fragments or variants thereof). In embodiments, the host cells or cell-free systems can include a previous modification step such as a nucleic acid coding for an O-methyltransferase polypeptide that is suitable for methylating luteolin to produce chrysoeriol which can then be prenylated by a polypeptide described herein into a substantially pure Cannflavin, such as Cannflavin A and/or B. It will be understood that an O-methyltransferase may be optional when a Cannflavin precursor such as chrysoeriol is produced and/or available to the host cell, the host cell or cell-free system may also comprise a polypeptide for an O-methyltransferase. Likewise, genes encoding one or more enzymes involved in the upstream production of luteolin, apigenin, or naringenin, such as F3H, FNS, CHI, CHS, 4CL, C4H, or PAL, may also be expressed in the host cells or present in an in vitro system and/or sources of these precursor molecules may be provided exogenously or endogenously. In embodiments, production of pure cannflavin, such as cannflavin A and/or B can also include combining the methylation of luteolin with a subsequent prenylation of chrysoeriol with GPP or DMAPP achieved by means of an organic chemistry synthesis method.

[0135] Also described herein are compositions comprising a prenylated and/or methylated flavonoid, a prenylated and/or methylated stilbenoid, or a prenylated and/or methylated bibenzyl obtainable or obtained by one of the methods as disclosed above, and to the use of said composition as a medicinal agent, such as an anti-inflammatory or anti-cancer agent, for pharmacological purposes and/or cosmetic purposes.

[0136] Provided herein are compositions comprising substantially pure prenylated and/or methylated flavonoid (for example cannflavin A or cannflavin B), a prenylated and/or methylated stilbenoid, or a prenylated and/or methylated bibenzyl, which are, for example, at least about 95%, about 96%, about 97%, about 98%, about 99%, about 99.5%, or about 99.9% pure.

[0137] The compositions comprising a modified flavonoid, stilbenoid or bibenzyl described herein may be formulated for use by a subject, such as a mammal, including a human. Such compositions may comprise about 0.00001% to about 99% by weight of the active and any range there-in-between. For example, typical doses may comprise from about 0.1 g to about 100 g of the molecules described herein per 300 mg dose, such as about 0.5 g, about 1 g, about 2 g, about 3 g, about 4 g, about 5 g, about 6 g, about 7 g, about 8 g, about 9 g, about 10 g, about 25 g, about 50 g, or about 75 g per 300 mg dose, such as from about 0.1 g to about 10 g, or from about 1 g to about 5 g, or from about 1 g to about 2 g per 300 mg dose (and all related increments and percentages by weight).

[0138] The prenylated and/or methylated molecules described herein may be used in any suitable amount, but are typically provided in doses comprising from about 1 to about 10000 ng/kg, such as from about 1 to about 1000, about 1 to about 500, about 10 to about 250, or about 50 to about 100 ng/kg, such as about 1, about 10, about 25, about 50, about 75, about 100, about 150, about 200, about 250, about 300, or about 500 ng/kg. Similar amounts, higher amounts, or lower amounts could be used for administration.

[0139] The prenylated and/or methylated molecules described herein may be administered over a period of hours, days, weeks, or months, depending on several factors, including the severity and type of the inflammation or other condition being treated, whether a recurrence is considered likely, or to prevent the inflammation or other condition, etc. The administration may be constant, e.g., constant infusion over a period of hours, days, weeks, months, etc. Alternatively, the administration may be intermittent, e.g., the molecules may be administered once a day over a period of days, once an hour over a period of hours, or any other such schedule as deemed suitable.

[0140] The compositions described herein can be prepared by per se known methods for the preparation of pharmaceutically or cosmetically acceptable compositions which can be administered to subjects, such that an effective quantity of the active substance is combined in a mixture with a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle. Suitable vehicles are described, for example, in Handbook of Pharmaceutical Additives (compiled by Michael and Irene Ash, Gower Publishing Limited, Aldershot, England (1995)). On this basis, the compositions include, albeit not exclusively, solutions of the substances in association with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable vehicles or diluents, and may be contained in buffered solutions with a suitable pH and/or be iso-osmotic with physiological fluids. In this regard, reference can be made to U.S. Pat. No. 5,843,456 (the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference).

[0141] Pharmaceutically acceptable carriers are well known to those skilled in the art and include, for example, sterile saline, lactose, sucrose, calcium phosphate, gelatin, dextrin, agar, pectin, peanut oil, olive oil, sesame oil, cannabis oil, and water. Furthermore, the composition may comprise one or more stabilizers such as, for example, carbohydrates including sorbitol, mannitol, starch, sucrose, dextrin and glucose, proteins such as albumin or casein, and buffers like alkaline phosphates.

[0142] The prenylated and/or methylated molecules described herein can, in embodiments, be administered for example, by parenteral, intravenous, subcutaneous, intradermal, intramuscular, intracranial, intraorbital, ophthalmic, intraventricular, intracapsular, intraspinal, intracisternal, intraperitoneal, intranasal, intrarectal, intravaginal, aerosol, oral, topical, or transdermal administration. Typically, the compositions of the invention are administered orally or topically directly to the site of inflammation or in a cosmetic oil, lotion, cream, or gel to a desired body location, such as the face.

[0143] It is understood by one of skill in the art that the produced molecules described herein can be used in conjunction with known therapies for prevention and/or treatment of inflammation in subjects and/or with compositions for preventing the signs of aging or other cosmetic compositions. Similarly, the produced modified molecules described herein can be combined with one or more other pharmaceutical or natural health products, such as cannabinoids, terpenes, or other natural or synthetic compounds. The produced molecules described herein may, in embodiments, be administered in combination, concurrently or sequentially, with conventional treatments for inflammation, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, for example. The prenylated and/or methylated molecules described herein may be formulated together with such conventional treatments when appropriate. Other uses of these prenylated and/or methylated molecules can be found due to their anticipated antiatherosclerotic, anticancer, antiviral, antimicrobial or hepatoprotective activities.

[0144] The above disclosure generally describes the present invention. A more complete understanding can be obtained by reference to the following specific Examples. These Examples are described solely for purposes of illustration and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Changes in form and substitution of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient. Although specific terms have been employed herein, such terms are intended in a descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation.

Methods

[0145] Chemicals and reagents. Authentic flavonoid standards for chrysoeriol, apigenin, luteolin, kaempherol and quercetin, dihydroresveratrol, tristin, gigantol, batatasin III, resveratrol, pinosylvin, caffeic acid and dihydrocaffeic acid can be purchased from specialized chemical companies such as Toronto Research Chemicals, Indofine Chemical Company or Sigma-Aldrich. The trans-prenyl diphosphates: dimethyllalyl diphosphate (DMAPP), isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP), and geranyl diphosphate (GPP) can be obtained from Echelon Biosciences. Radiolabeled S-[Methyl-14C] adenosyl-L-methionine (58.0 mCi mmol-1) can be obtained from PerkinElmer.

[0146] Expression of recombinant prenyltransferases in E. coli. In typical aspects, open reading frames encoding soluble aromatic prenyltransferases from bacteria or fungi, for example NphB, HypSC, CloQ, NovQ, Fur7, or PpzP are synthesized commercially. This cDNA is amplified by PCR and then inserted into an expression vector system (for example, Novagen's pET28) which introduces an N-terminal 6His tag to the coding sequence. The construct is then introduced into a bacterial host (for example E. coli BL21-CodonPlus (DE3)-RIPL) cell. Bacterial cells expressing recombinant NphB are cultured for several hours in the presence of IPTG to induce recombinant protein expression. The bacterial cells are collected by centrifugation, re-suspended, and then disrupted by sonication. Crude protein extracts are applied and purified with a Ni.sup.2+ affinity matrix (for example a HisTrap HP column). Afterwards, the enzyme is eluted with high concentrations (250 to 400 uM) of imidazole and then equilibrated in a suitable buffer. The purified NphB protein can be frozen prior to use.

[0147] Enzymatic prenylation reactions. Typically, enzyme reactions can be carried out in assay tubes by mixing purified prenyltransferase enzyme, the flavonoid, stilbenoid or bibenzyl substrate (for example, chrysoeriol, kaempferol, or quercetin), a prenyl donor group (GPP, or DMAPP), MgCl.sub.2, and Tris-HCl buffer and incubated in a 30 C. water-bath overnight. Reactions can be stopped by adding 20% formic acid and then extracted with ethyl acetate. For analysis, usually, reactions are dried under N.sub.2 and then resuspended in methanol before separating them on a HPLC with a reverse-phase column (for example Spherisorb ODS2) and eluted with a linear gradient of methanol:water.

[0148] Recombinant protein expression of CsOMTs in E. coli. Open reading frames corresponding to O-methyltransferases from C. sativa are synthesized by commercially. These cDNAs are amplified by PCR using a high fidelity DNA polymerase and cloned and expressed following the method described above for prenyltransferase genes.

[0149] O-methyltransferase enzyme assays. Assays for determining O-methyltransferase enzyme activity are performed using purified recombinant protein incubated in a final reaction volume of 100 L of 1 mM substrate and radiolabeled adenosyl-L-methionine in 50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.5, 5 mM MgCl2, and 10% (v/v) glycerol for 30 min at 37 C. The enzymatic products are extracted with four volumes of ethyl acetate and quantified using a scintillation counter. For reaction product identification, assays are scaled up to a final volume of 500 L containing 50 to 200 g of recombinant protein, 2 mM of substrate and 2 mM S-adenosyl-L-methionine in the same buffer as above. Enzymatic products are extracted as above, evaporated to dryness under N.sub.2 gas, and resuspended in 100 L of methanol. Samples are analyzed by HPLC with a Spherisorb ODS2 reverse-phase column and eluted over a 20 min gradient from 45% to 95% methanol with 0.1% formic acid (v/v) followed by 100% methanol for 10 min. The eluted products are detected by absorption at the 210-350 nm range and quantified relative to authentic standards. Mass spectral analysis of the enzymatic products is performed as described below.

[0150] Mass spectrometry analysis of enzymatic reaction products. The prenylated or methylated products can be purified by HPLC as described above. Generally, samples are evaporated under nitrogen and then re-suspended in methanol prior to liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis (for example HPLC liquid chromatography interfaced with a Q-TOF mass spectrometer). During such analysis, the mass-to-charge ratio is typically scanned across the m/z range of 100-3000 m/z in an extended dynamic range positive-ion MS mode. Chromatograms can be analyzed by using a software that compares MS patterns from standard libraries or known standards used in the laboratory. Fragmentation patterns of the various parent (molecular) ions obtained using collision energies of 5 to 20 V from the recovered peak products (modified compounds) are usually also compared with fragmentation patterns of standard molecules.

[0151] In typical aspects, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, is used as a preeminent technique for determining the structure of the prenylated or methylated compounds that can be obtained (for example for determining the position of the GPP, DMAPP, or methyl group in one of the flavonoid, stilbenoid or bibenzyl rings). After the enzymatic reaction products from the enzymatic assays are resolved by HPLC, the compounds are eluted and subsequently collected. Usually, approximately 0.5 mg of each compound is evaporated to dryness under N.sub.2 gas, resuspended in acetone-d6, and analyzed using .sup.1H and .sup.13C NMR. NMR spectra are collected on a spectrometer (for example a Bruker AVANCE III 600 MHz equipped with a 5 mm TCI cryoprobe).

[0152] In an exemplary extraction step, this or a similar in vitro cell-free system described herein can be suitable for producing a substantially pure prenylated flavonoid, a prenylated stilbenoid or a prenylated bibenzyl in the presence of at least an aromatic prenyltransferase described herein. The prenylated product can undergo further purification if necessary depending on the in vitro system selected before being destined to be used in preparations.

REFERENCES

[0153] Akao Y, Maruyama H, Matsumoto K, Ohguchi K, Nishizawa K, Sakamoto T, Araki Y, Mishima S, Nozawa Y (2008) Cell growth inhibitory effect of cinnamic acid derivatives from propolis on human tumor cell lines. Biol Pharm Bull. 26: 1057-1059. [0154] Akinwumi B C, Bordun K M, Anderson H D (2018) Biological Activities of Stilbenoids. Int J Mol Sci. 19: E792. [0155] Bandyukova V A, Avanesov E T (1971) The structure of methoxylated flavonoids. Chem Nat Compounds 7: 250-253. [0156] Barron D, Ibrahim R K (1996) Isoprenylated flavonoidsa survey. Phytochemistry 43: 921-982. [0157] Bernini R, Crisante F, Ginnasi M C (2011) A convenient and safe O-methylation of flavonoids with dimethyl carbonate (DMC). Molecules. 16: 1418-1425. [0158] Bonitz T, Alva V, Saleh O, Lupas A N, Heide L (2011) Evolutionary relationships of microbial aromatic prenyltransferases. PLoS One 6: e27336. [0159] Botta B, Delle Monache G, Menendez P, Boffi A (2005) Novel prenyltransferase enzymes as a tool for flavonoid prenylation. Trends Pharmacol Sci 26: 606-608. [0160] Chen X, Mukwaya E, Wong M S, Zhang Y (2014) A systematic review on biological activities of prenylated flavonoids. Pharm Biol. 52: 655-660. [0161] Kikuchi H et al. (2019) Chemopreventive and anticancer activity of flavonoids and its possibility for clinical use by combining with conventional chemotherapeutic agents. Am J Cancer Res 9: 1517-1535. [0162] Koirala N, Thuan N H, Ghimire G P, Thang D V, Sohng J K (2016) Methylation of flavonoids: Chemical structures, bioactivities, progress and perspectives for biotechnological production. Enzyme Microb Technol. 86:103-116. [0163] Kumano T, Richard S B, Noel J P, Nishiyama M, Kuzuyama T (2008) Chemoenzymatic syntheses of prenylated aromatic small molecules using Streptomyces prenyltransferases with relaxed substrate specificities. Bioorg Med Chem. 16: 8117-8126. [0164] Kumar S, Pandey A K (2013) Chemistry and biological activities of flavonoids: an overview Sci. World J 2013: 162750. [0165] Mishima S, Ono Y, Araki Y, Akao Y, Nozawa Y (2005) Two related cinnamic acid derivatives from Brazilian honey bee propolis, baccharin and drupanin, induce growth inhibition in allografted sarcoma S-180 in mice. Biol. Pharm. Bull. 28: 1025-1030. [0166] Ozaki T, Mishima S, Nishiyama M, Kuzuyama T (2009) NovQ is a prenyltransferase capable of catalyzing the addition of a dimethylallyl group to both phenylpropanoids and flavonoids. J Antibiot 62: 385-392. [0167] Paddon C J, Keasling J D (2014) Semi-synthetic artemisinin: a model for the use of synthetic biology in pharmaceutical development. Nat Rev Microbiol. 12: 355-367. [0168] Rasouli H et al. (2017) Polyphenols and their benefits: A review. Int J Food Properties 20: S1700-S1741. [0169] Thodey K, Galanie S, Smolke C D (2014) A microbial biomanufacturing platform for natural and semisynthetic opioids. Nat Chem Biol. 10: 837-844. [0170] Walle T (2007) Methylation of dietary flavones greatly improves their hepatic metabolic stability and intestinal absorption. Mol Pharm. 4: 826-832. [0171] Xiao J, Muzashvili T S, Georgiev M I (2014) Advances in the biotechnological glycosylation of valuable flavonoids. Biotechnol Adv. 32: 1145-1156. [0172] Xiao K, Zhang H J, Xuan L J, Zhang J, Xu Y M, Bai D L (2008) Stilbenoids: Chemistry and bioactivities. Studies Nat Prod Chem 34: 453-646 [0173] Yang X, Jianga Y, Yang J, He J, Sun J, Chen F, Zhang M W, Yang B (2015) Prenylated flavonoids, promising nutraceuticals with impressive biological activities. Trends Food Sc Tech 44: 93-104.

EXAMPLES

Example 1

[0174] This example describes a general method for using the prenyltransferase NphB from Streptomyces sp. strain CL190 to prenylate chrysoeriol using GPP and to produce cannflavin A. A synthetic cDNA sequence of NphB was sub-cloned in the pET28a vector system (Novagen) which introduced an N-terminal 6His tag to the coding sequence and then the construct was introduced into E. coli BL21-CodonPlus (DE3)-RIPE cells. Bacterial cells expressing recombinant NphB were cultured in 1 L of LB media at 37 C. to an OD 600 of 0.6. Isopropyl--D-thiogalactoside (IPTG) was then added to a final concentration of 1 mM and the cells were incubated at 16 C. for an additional 18 h to induce recombinant protein expression. The bacterial cells were collected by centrifugation, re-suspended in 20 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.0, 500 mM KCl (Buffer A), and then disrupted by sonication. Crude protein extracts were centrifuged at 12,000g for 10 min at 4 C. to remove unbroken cells and debris and the supernatant was applied to a HisTrap HP column. After washing the column with the same buffer, the NphB enzyme bound to the Ni.sup.2+ affinity matrix was eluted with one column volume of Buffer A containing 400 mM imidazole, and then immediately desalted on PD-10 columns (GE Healthcare) equilibrated with mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.5, 5 mM MgCl2, and 10% (v/v) glycerol. The purified NphB protein was quantified and stored at 80 C. prior to use.

[0175] Enzymatic reactions were carried out as follows: purified NphB (200 g), chrysoeriol (400 M), GPP (800 M), MgCl.sub.2 (10 mM), Tris-HCl pH 9.0 (100 mM) were mixed in a total volume of 500 L and were incubated in a 30 C. water-bath overnight. Reactions were terminated with 20 L of 20% formic acid and extracted twice with ethyl acetate, dried under N.sub.2 gas, and then resuspended in 200 L of methanol. Samples were run on an HPLC with a Spherisorb ODS2 reverse-phase column and eluted with a 20 min linear gradient from 45% to 95% methanol in water containing 0.1% formic acid (v/v). The HPLC chromatogram of the product showed a first major peak that eluted at the same time as the cannflavin A standard (FIG. 1) which was collected and processed for mass spectrometry analysis.

[0176] The prenylated products that were produced by NphB in vitro, were purified by HPLC as described above. Samples were evaporated under nitrogen and then re-suspended in methanol prior to liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis performed on an Agilent 1200 HPLC interfaced with an Agilent UHD 6530 Q-TOF mass spectrometer. A C18 cartridge column (Agilent Rapid Resolution 2.130 mm, 3.5 m) was used at 30 C. with 1:1 water and acetonitrile as solvents, both with 0.1% formic acid. The flow rate was maintained at 0.4 mL/min. The mass spectrometer electrospray capillary voltage was maintained at 4.0 kV and the drying gas temperature at 250 C. with a flow rate of 8 L/min. Nebulizer pressure was 30 psi and the fragmentor was set to 160 V. Nitrogen was used as both nebulizing, drying gas, and collision-induced dissociation gas. The instrument was externally calibrated with the ESI TuneMix (Agilent). The mass-to-charge ratio was scanned across the m/z range of 100-3000 m/z in 4 GHz extended dynamic range positive-ion MS mode. Chromatograms were analyzed within Agilent Qualitative Analysis software B 08.0. Fragmentation patterns of the various parent (molecular) ions were obtained using collision energies of 5, 10 and 20 V, with 20 V being optimal. Those fragmentation patterns obtained from the recovered peak products (geranylation of chrysoeriol) were compared with those of Cannflavin A. Q-TOF mass spectra of a cannflavin A standard shows that the mass spectra of the prenylated product (6-geranyl chrysoeriol) is consistent with the pattern of a cannflavin A standard ([M+H]+ 437) (FIGS. 2A and 2B, upper panels) and mass spectral fragmentation pattern of the enzymatic product from the assay (bottom panel) also resembles that of the cannflavin A standard in (A, bottom panel), indicating that prenylation of chrysoeriol with GPP by NphB produces cannflavin A (FIGS. 2A and 2B, bottom panels).

Example 2

[0177] This example describes a general method for using O-methyltransferases from Cannabis sativa and S-adenosyl-methionine to produce methylated flavonoids, specifically a flavone and a flavonol. Synthetic cDNA sequences of CsOMT6 and csOMT21 were sub-cloned in the pET28a vector system (Novagen) to produce a 6His-protein fusion and then the construct was introduced into E. coli BL21-CodonPlus (DE3)-RIPL cells. Bacterial cells expressing recombinant proteins were cultured in 1 L of LB media at 37 C. to an OD.sub.600 of 0.6. Isopropyl--D-thiogalactoside (IPTG) was then added to a final concentration of 1 mM and the cells were incubated at 16 C. for an additional 18 h to induce recombinant protein expression. The bacterial cells were collected by centrifugation, re-suspended in 20 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.0, 500 mM KCl (Buffer A), and then disrupted by sonication. Crude protein extracts were centrifuged at 12,000g for 10 min at 4 C. to remove unbroken cells and debris and the supernatant was applied to a HisTrap HP column. After washing the column with the same buffer, the enzymes bound to the Ni.sup.2+ affinity matrix were eluted with one column volume of Buffer A containing 400 mM imidazole, and then immediately desalted on PD-10 columns (GE Healthcare) equilibrated with 50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.5, 5 mM MgCl2, and 10% (v/v) glycerol. The purified proteins were quantified and stored at 80 C. prior to use.

[0178] Enzymatic reactions for determining O-methyltransferase activity of CsOMT6 and CsOMT21 were carried out using 2 g of purified recombinant enzyme incubated in a final reaction volume of 100 L containing 1 mM substrate (luteolin, quercetin, kaempferol, apigenin and chrysoeriol, FIG. 3A) and 6.9 M S-[Methyl-.sup.14C] adenosyl-L-methionine in 50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.5, 5 mM MgCl2, and 10% (v/v) glycerol for 30 min at 37 C. The enzymatic products were extracted with four volumes of ethyl acetate and quantified using a scintillation counter (Model L56500, Beckman). For the identification of reaction products, the assays were scaled up to a final volume of 500 L using 50 g of recombinant protein, 2 mM substrate and 2 mM S-adenosyl-L-methionine in 50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.5, 5 mM MgCl2, and 10% (v/v) glycerol for 60 min at 37 C. The enzymatic products were extracted as above, evaporated to dryness under N.sub.2 gas, and resuspended in 100 L of methanol. Samples were analyzed by HPLC with a Spherisorb ODS2 reverse-phase column (250 mm4.6 mm, 5 m) and eluted over a 20 min gradient from 45% to 95% methanol with 0.1% formic acid (v/v) followed by 100% methanol for min. The eluted products were detected by absorption at the 210-350 nm range and quantified relative to authentic standards. Next, mass spectral analyses of the enzymatic products were performed as described in Example 1. With CsOMT6, preferred methylation of quercetin was detected (FIG. 3B), whereas recombinant CsOMT21 was able to methylate luteolin and quercetin but with less efficiency (FIG. 3C), indicating that the selected OMTs from cannabis present preferred substrate specificity for flavonoid compounds.

Example 3

[0179] This example describes a method for using O-methyltransferases from Cannabis sativa to produce methylated bibenzyls using S-adenosyl-methionine. Similar to what was described in the previous example, cDNA sequences of CsOMT1, CsOMT3, CsOMT5 and CsOMT13 were sub-cloned in the same expression vector and recombinant proteins were produced in E. coli and purified using the same method as above.

[0180] In this example, the activity of these four O-methyltransferases was tested with the bibenzyl compounds dihydroresveratrol, tristin, gigantol and batatasin III as potential substrates (FIG. 4A). The higher O-methyltransferase activity was observed with CsOMT1 when dihydroresveratrol (DHR) was used as substrate. CsOMT1 also displayed activity with batatasin III, although this was about 25% of that with DHR (FIG. 4B). Similar levels of substrate conversion to a methylated form were observed with CsOMT3 with DHR as substrate and CsOMT13 with DHR and gigantol product (FIG. 4B). CsOMT5 did not show any preference with the selected substrates nor produced any specific product. To evaluate whether CsOMT1 can methylate stilbenoids, the oxidized form of DHR, resveratrol, along with pinosylvin and similar phenolic molecules such as caffeic acid and its reduced form, dihydrocaffeic acid (FIG. 5A) were used in similar enzymatic assays. Only residual activity (lower than 5% of that with DHR) was observed with the two stilbenoids tested (FIG. 5B), indicating that CsOMT1 has specific preference to bibenzyl compounds, specifically towards DHR. To further validate and characterize CsOMT1 methyltransferase activity, the identity of the methylated product of the reaction was structurally determined by NMR as pinobistilbene, which indicated that the modification on DHR occurred in position 3 of the ring that has the two hydroxyl groups (ring A, FIG. 6A). FIG. 6B shows a representative chromatogram of the reaction products resolved by HPLC which illustrates the separation of the substrate (DHR) from its methylated form. Enzyme kinetics assays were also performed to characterize CsOMT1 activity, which also confirmed the efficient O-methyltransferase activity of the recombinant enzyme with dihydroresveratrol as substrate (FIG. 6C).

[0181] The above disclosure generally describes the present invention. Although specific terms have been employed herein, such terms are intended in a descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation.

[0182] All publications, patents and patent applications cited above are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0183] Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been described herein in detail, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that variations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.