Recent advances in UDP-glycosyltransferases from medicinal and edible homologous plants: a catalytic toolkit for natural glycoside biosynthesis

Medicinal and edible homologous (MEH) plants represent a distinctive and underexploited reservoir of bioactive natural products, yet their potential for sustainable biomanufacturing remains largely untapped owing to the limited understanding of the glycosyltransferases that govern the biosynthesis of their key metabolites. Uridine diphosphate (UDP)-dependent glycosyltransferases (UGTs) play a pivotal role in enhancing the bioavailability, stability, and bioactivity of specialized metabolites in these plants. However, a systematic overview of these functionally characterized UGTs is currently lacking. Here, we present a comprehensive curation of functionally characterized UGTs from MEH plants, organized by their substrate classes. We examine the structural and evolutionary principles underlying UGT catalytic diversification, and discuss integrated discovery platforms encompassing multi-omics mining, heterologous expression, and high-throughput screening. Finally, protein engineering strategies such as rational design and directed evolution are examined for optimizing catalytic properties and industrial applicability. This review serves as a foundational reference and provides a catalytic framework for advancing the sustainable production of high-value natural glycosides, underscoring the significant potential of UGTs in biomanufacturing and functional food development.