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Banks P, Funkhouser EM, Macias AM, Lovett B, Meador S, Hatch A, Garraffo HM, Cartwright KC, Kasson MT, Marek PE, Jones TH, Mevers E. The Chemistry of the Defensive Secretions of Three Species of Millipedes in the Genus Brachycybe. J Chem Ecol 2024:10.1007/s10886-024-01518-6. [PMID: 38853234 DOI: 10.1007/s10886-024-01518-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2024] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Millipedes have long been known to produce a diverse array of chemical defense agents that deter predation. These compounds, or their precursors, are stored in high concentration within glands (ozadenes) and are released upon disturbance. The subterclass Colobognatha contains four orders of millipedes, all of which are known to produce terpenoid alkaloids-spare the Siphonophorida that produce terpenes. Although these compounds represent some of the most structurally-intriguing millipede-derived natural products, they are the least studied class of millipede defensive secretions. Here, we describe the chemistry of millipede defensive secretions from three species of Brachycybe: Brachycybe producta, Brachycybe petasata, and Brachycybe rosea. Chemical investigations using mass spectrometry-based metabolomics, chemical synthesis, and 2D NMR led to the identification of five alkaloids, three of which are new to the literature. All identified compounds are monoterpene alkaloids with the new compounds representing indolizidine (i.e. hydrogosodesmine) and quinolizidine alkaloids (i.e. homogosodesmine and homo-hydrogosodesmine). The chemical diversity of these compounds tracks the known species phylogeny of this genus, rather than the geographical proximity of the species. The indolizidines and quinolizidines are produced by non-sympatric sister species, B. producta and B. petasata, while deoxybuzonamine is produced by another set of non-sympatric sister species, B. rosea and Brachycybe lecontii. The fidelity between the chemical diversity and phylogeny strongly suggests that millipedes generate these complex defensive agents de novo and begins to provide insights into the evolution of their biochemical pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paige Banks
- Department of Chemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Emma M Funkhouser
- Department of Chemistry, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, VA, 24450, USA
| | - Angie M Macias
- Division of Plant and Soil Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA
| | - Brian Lovett
- Emerging Pests and Pathogens Research Unit, USDA ARS, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Shelby Meador
- Division of Plant and Soil Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA
| | - Arden Hatch
- Department of Chemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - H Martin Garraffo
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, 20899, USA
| | - Kaitie C Cartwright
- Department of Chemistry, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, VA, 24450, USA
| | - Matt T Kasson
- Division of Plant and Soil Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA
| | - Paul E Marek
- Department of Entomology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Tappey H Jones
- Department of Chemistry, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, VA, 24450, USA
| | - Emily Mevers
- Department of Chemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA.
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Reboleira ASPS, Eusébio RP. Cave-adapted millipedes from Portugal: species conservation profiles. Biodivers Data J 2023; 11:e110382. [PMID: 38312344 PMCID: PMC10838078 DOI: 10.3897/bdj.11.e110382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Amongst the cave-dwelling millipedes (Diplopoda), there are several endemic species in Portugal with a very small geographical distribution. These species play an important role in the decomposition of organic matter in subterranean ecosystems and are vulnerable to disturbance from human activities, such as habitat destruction, pollution infiltrating from the surface and cave tourism. New information We present the IUCN Red List profiles for cave-adapted millipedes (Diplopoda) from Portugal and propose conservation measures to prevent extinction. Overall, cave-adapted millipedes from Portugal represent an endemic part of the country's biodiversity and conservation efforts will help maintain the delicate ecological balance of subterranean ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Sofia P S Reboleira
- Departamento de Biologia Animal and Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (cE3c) & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal Departamento de Biologia Animal and Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (cE3c) & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa Lisbon Portugal
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen Copenhagen Denmark
| | - Rita P Eusébio
- Departamento de Biologia Animal and Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (cE3c) & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal Departamento de Biologia Animal and Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (cE3c) & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa Lisbon Portugal
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Characterization of the 2,6-Dimethylphenol Monooxygenase MpdAB and Evaluation of Its Potential in Vitamin E Precursor Synthesis. Appl Environ Microbiol 2022; 88:e0011022. [PMID: 35380460 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00110-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
2,6-Dimethylphenol (2,6-DMP) is a widely used chemical intermediate whose residue has been frequently detected in the environment, posing a threat to some aquatic organisms. Microbial degradation is an effective method to eliminate 2,6-DMP in nature. However, the genetic and biochemical mechanisms of 2,6-DMP metabolism remain unknown. Mycobacterium neoaurum B5-4 is a 2,6-DMP-degrading bacterium isolated in our previous study. Here, a 2,6-DMP degradation-deficient mutant of strain B5-4 was screened. Comparative genomic, transcriptomic, gene disruption, and genetic complementation data indicated that mpdA and mpdB are responsible for the initial step of 2,6-DMP degradation in M. neoaurum B5-4. MpdAB was predicted to be a two-component flavin-dependent monooxygenase system, which shows 32% and 36% identities with HsaAB from Mycobacterium tuberculosis CDC1551. The transcription of mpdA and mpdB was substantially increased upon exposure to 2,6-DMP. Nuclear magnetic resonance analysis showed that purified 6×His-MpdA and 6×His-MpdB hydroxylated 2,6-DMP and 2,3,6-trimethylphenol (2,3,6-TMP) at the para-position using NADH and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) as cofactors. The apparent Km values of MpdAB for 2,6-DMP and 2,3,6-TMP were 0.12 ± 0.01 and 0.17 ± 0.01 mM, respectively, and the corresponding kcat/Km values were 4.02 and 2.84 s-1 mM-1, respectively. Since para-hydroxylated 2,3,6-TMP is a major precursor for vitamin E synthesis, the potential of MpdAB in vitamin E synthesis was preliminarily evaluated using whole-cell catalysis. Low expression levels of MpdA and 2,3,6-TMP cytotoxicity limited the efficiency of whole-cell catalysis. Together, this study reveals the genetic and biochemical basis for the initial step of 2,6-DMP biodegradation and provides candidate enzymes for vitamin E synthesis. IMPORTANCE Although the microbial degradation of the six isomers of dimethylphenol has been extensively studied, the genetic and biochemical mechanisms of 2,6-DMP degradation remain unclear. This study identified the genes responsible for the initial step in the 2,6-DMP catabolic pathway in M. neoaurum B5-4. Moreover, MpdAB also catalyzed the transformation of 2,3,6-TMP to 2,3,5-trimethylhydroquinone (2,3,5-TMHQ), a crucial step in vitamin E synthesis. Overall, this study provides candidate enzymes for both the bioremediation of 2,6-DMP contamination and the development of a green method to synthesize vitamin E.
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Qu Z, Nong W, So WL, Barton-Owen T, Li Y, Leung TCN, Li C, Baril T, Wong AYP, Swale T, Chan TF, Hayward A, Ngai SM, Hui JHL. Millipede genomes reveal unique adaptations during myriapod evolution. PLoS Biol 2020; 18:e3000636. [PMID: 32991578 PMCID: PMC7523956 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The Myriapoda, composed of millipedes and centipedes, is a fascinating but poorly understood branch of life, including species with a highly unusual body plan and a range of unique adaptations to their environment. Here, we sequenced and assembled 2 chromosomal-level genomes of the millipedes Helicorthomorpha holstii (assembly size = 182 Mb; shortest scaffold/contig length needed to cover 50% of the genome [N50] = 18.11 Mb mainly on 8 pseudomolecules) and Trigoniulus corallinus (assembly size = 449 Mb, N50 = 26.78 Mb mainly on 17 pseudomolecules). Unique genomic features, patterns of gene regulation, and defence systems in millipedes, not observed in other arthropods, are revealed. Both repeat content and intron size are major contributors to the observed differences in millipede genome size. Tight Hox and the first loose ecdysozoan ParaHox homeobox clusters are identified, and a myriapod-specific genomic rearrangement including Hox3 is also observed. The Argonaute (AGO) proteins for loading small RNAs are duplicated in both millipedes, but unlike in insects, an AGO duplicate has become a pseudogene. Evidence of post-transcriptional modification in small RNAs—including species-specific microRNA arm switching—providing differential gene regulation is also obtained. Millipedes possesses a unique ozadene defensive gland unlike the venomous forcipules found in centipedes. We identify sets of genes associated with the ozadene that play roles in chemical defence as well as antimicrobial activity. Macro-synteny analyses revealed highly conserved genomic blocks between the 2 millipedes and deuterostomes. Collectively, our analyses of millipede genomes reveal that a series of unique adaptations have occurred in this major lineage of arthropod diversity. The 2 high-quality millipede genomes provided here shed new light on the conserved and lineage-specific features of millipedes and centipedes. These findings demonstrate the importance of the consideration of both centipede and millipede genomes—and in particular the reconstruction of the myriapod ancestral situation—for future research to improve understanding of arthropod evolution, and animal evolutionary genomics more widely. Myriapods were among the first arthropods to invade the land over 400 million years ago, and survive today as the herbivorous millipedes and venomous centipedes. This study describes the genome sequences of two millipedes, Helicorthomorpha holstii and Trigoniulus corallinus, revealing unique adaptations not found in other arthropods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Qu
- School of Life Sciences, Simon F.S. Li Marine Science Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Wenyan Nong
- School of Life Sciences, Simon F.S. Li Marine Science Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Wai Lok So
- School of Life Sciences, Simon F.S. Li Marine Science Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Tom Barton-Owen
- School of Life Sciences, Simon F.S. Li Marine Science Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Yiqian Li
- School of Life Sciences, Simon F.S. Li Marine Science Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Thomas C. N. Leung
- School of Life Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Chade Li
- School of Life Sciences, Simon F.S. Li Marine Science Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Tobias Baril
- Department of Conservation and Ecology, Penryn Campus, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Annette Y. P. Wong
- School of Life Sciences, Simon F.S. Li Marine Science Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Thomas Swale
- Dovetail Genomics, Scotts Valley, California, United States of America
| | - Ting-Fung Chan
- School of Life Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Alexander Hayward
- Department of Conservation and Ecology, Penryn Campus, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Sai-Ming Ngai
- School of Life Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Jerome H. L. Hui
- School of Life Sciences, Simon F.S. Li Marine Science Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- * E-mail:
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