Synthesis Pathway and Application Prospect of L-theanine

doi:10.11924/j.issn.1000-6850.casb2024-0102

Abstract

Abstract:

L-theanine is a special free amino acid in tea leaves and one of the main flavor substances in tea. Due to its health benefits such as relaxation, fatigue relief, anti-tumor effects, and blood pressure reduction, it has received widespread attention in the food and healthcare industries. In order to study the synthesis pathway and methods of L-theanine, this paper summarized the current main pathways for L-theanine synthesis, which were divided into plant-derived synthesis and microbial-derived synthesis according to their sources; and bioenzymatic catalysis and chemical synthesis according to their synthesis methods. The advantages and disadvantages of each synthesis method were analyzed. Meanwhile, the applications of L-theanine in food and medical fields were summarized, and future research directions for efficient theanine synthesis were proposed, aiming to provide a reference for the production and application of L-theanine.

Key words: L-theanine, biological synthesis, chemical synthesis, food applications, medical application

DONG Meng, SONG Dapeng, WANG Kunpeng, DING Shibo, WANG Yingying, LI Haipeng, YANG Fengshan, FU Haiyan. Synthesis Pathway and Application Prospect of L-theanine[J]. Chinese Agricultural Science Bulletin, 2025, 41(2): 140-148.

Figures/Tables 5

References 63

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催化酶	简称	主要功能	催化反应条件	特点	参考文献
γ-谷氨酰转肽酶	GGT	转运谷氨酰基	合成的pH值和高浓度乙胺	反应不需要ATP、但需要高浓度的乙胺抑制其水解反应	[19⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓]、[35]
L-谷氨酰胺合成酶	GS	合成谷氨酸、谷氨酰胺	反应需要ATP和较高的pH	医学诊断中重要的参考指标、可催化植物和合成氮素	[36]、[37]
γ-谷氨酰甲胺合成酶	GMAS	合成茶氨酸	需要ATP的参与	合成效率高	[25]、[38]、[39]
γ-谷氨酰半胱合成酶	γ-GCS	合成合成γ-谷氨酰半胱氨酸	需要ATP的参与	可催化非氨基酸底物合成γ-谷氨酰半胱氨酸	[40-41]
L-谷氨酰胺酶	GLS	水解酰胺基	较高的底物浓度和pH	-	[28]、[42-43]
茶氨酸合成酶	TS	合成茶氨酸	需要ATP的参与	只存在于茶科植物或小部分植物中，不易分离纯化	[1⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓]、[44]

催化酶	简称	主要功能	催化反应条件	特点	参考文献
γ-谷氨酰转肽酶	GGT	转运谷氨酰基	合成的pH值和高浓度乙胺	反应不需要ATP、但需要高浓度的乙胺抑制其水解反应	[19⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓]、[35]
L-谷氨酰胺合成酶	GS	合成谷氨酸、谷氨酰胺	反应需要ATP和较高的pH	医学诊断中重要的参考指标、可催化植物和合成氮素	[36]、[37]
γ-谷氨酰甲胺合成酶	GMAS	合成茶氨酸	需要ATP的参与	合成效率高	[25]、[38]、[39]
γ-谷氨酰半胱合成酶	γ-GCS	合成合成γ-谷氨酰半胱氨酸	需要ATP的参与	可催化非氨基酸底物合成γ-谷氨酰半胱氨酸	[40-41]
L-谷氨酰胺酶	GLS	水解酰胺基	较高的底物浓度和pH	-	[28]、[42-43]
茶氨酸合成酶	TS	合成茶氨酸	需要ATP的参与	只存在于茶科植物或小部分植物中，不易分离纯化	[1⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓]、[44]