1
|
Smit SJ, Ayten S, Radzikowska BA, Hamilton JP, Langer S, Unsworth WP, Larson TR, Buell CR, Lichman BR. The genomic and enzymatic basis for iridoid biosynthesis in cat thyme (Teucrium marum). THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024; 118:1589-1602. [PMID: 38489316 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.16698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
Iridoids are non-canonical monoterpenoids produced by both insects and plants. An example is the cat-attracting and insect-repelling volatile iridoid nepetalactone, produced by Nepeta sp. (catmint) and aphids. Recently, both nepetalactone biosynthetic pathways were elucidated, showing a remarkable convergent evolution. The iridoid, dolichodial, produced by Teucrium marum (cat thyme) and multiple insect species, has highly similar properties to nepetalactone but its biosynthetic origin remains unknown. We set out to determine the genomic, enzymatic, and evolutionary basis of iridoid biosynthesis in T. marum. First, we generated a de novo chromosome-scale genome assembly for T. marum using Oxford Nanopore Technologies long reads and proximity-by-ligation Hi-C reads. The 610.3 Mb assembly spans 15 pseudomolecules with a 32.9 Mb N50 scaffold size. This enabled identification of iridoid biosynthetic genes, whose roles were verified via activity assays. Phylogenomic analysis revealed that the evolutionary history of T. marum iridoid synthase, the iridoid scaffold-forming enzyme, is not orthologous to typical iridoid synthases but is derived from its conserved paralog. We discovered an enzymatic route from nepetalactol to diverse iridoids through the coupled activity of an iridoid oxidase cytochrome P450 and acetyltransferases, via an inferred acylated intermediate. This work provides a genomic resource for specialized metabolite research in mints and demonstration of the role of acetylation in T. marum iridoid diversity. This work will enable future biocatalytic or biosynthetic production of potent insect repellents, as well as comparative studies into iridoid biosynthesis in insects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samuel J Smit
- Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, Department of Biology, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Sefa Ayten
- Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics, & Genomics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, 30602, USA
| | - Barbara A Radzikowska
- Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, Department of Biology, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK
- Department of Chemistry, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - John P Hamilton
- Center for Applied Genetic Technologies, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, 30602, USA
- Department of Crop & Soil Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, 30602, USA
| | - Swen Langer
- Bioscience Technology Facility, Department of Biology, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | | | - Tony R Larson
- Bioscience Technology Facility, Department of Biology, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - C Robin Buell
- Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics, & Genomics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, 30602, USA
- Center for Applied Genetic Technologies, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, 30602, USA
- Department of Crop & Soil Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, 30602, USA
| | - Benjamin R Lichman
- Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, Department of Biology, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Liang Y, Ma A. Investigating the degradation potential of microbial consortia for perfluorooctane sulfonate through a functional "top-down" screening approach. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0303904. [PMID: 38758752 PMCID: PMC11101035 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0303904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is a prominent perfluorinated compound commonly found in the environment, known to pose various risks to human health. However, the removal of PFOS presents significant challenges, primarily due to the limited discovery of bacteria capable of effectively degrading PFOS. Moreover, single degradation bacteria often encounter obstacles in individual cultivation and the breakdown of complex pollutants. In contrast, microbial consortia have shown promise in pollutant degradation. This study employed a continuous enrichment method, combined with multiple co-metabolic substrates, to investigate a microbial consortium with the potential for PFOS degradation. By employing this methodology, we effectively identified a microbial consortium that demonstrated the capacity to reduce PFOS when exposed to an optimal concentration of methanol. The consortium predominantly comprised of Hyphomicrobium species (46.7%) along with unclassified microorganisms (53.0%). Over a duration of 20 days, the PFOS concentration exhibited a notable decrease of 56.7% in comparison to the initial level, while considering the exclusion of adsorption effects. Furthermore, by comparing the predicted metabolic pathways of the microbial consortium with the genome of a known chloromethane-degrading bacterium, Hyphomicrobium sp. MC1, using the KEGG database, we observed distinct variations in the metabolic pathways, suggesting the potential role of the unclassified microorganisms. These findings underscore the potential effectiveness of a "top-down" functional microbial screening approach in the degradation of stubborn pollutants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu Liang
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Anzhou Ma
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Shoji T, Hashimoto T, Saito K. Genetic regulation and manipulation of nicotine biosynthesis in tobacco: strategies to eliminate addictive alkaloids. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2024; 75:1741-1753. [PMID: 37647764 PMCID: PMC10938045 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erad341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) is a widely cultivated crop of the genus Nicotiana. Due to the highly addictive nature of tobacco products, tobacco smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease. There is therefore a critical need to develop tobacco varieties with reduced or non-addictive nicotine levels. Nicotine and related pyridine alkaloids biosynthesized in the roots of tobacco plants are transported to the leaves, where they are stored in vacuoles as a defense against predators. Jasmonate, a defense-related plant hormone, plays a crucial signaling role in activating transcriptional regulators that coordinate the expression of downstream metabolic and transport genes involved in nicotine production. In recent years, substantial progress has been made in molecular and genomics research, revealing many metabolic and regulatory genes involved in nicotine biosynthesis. These advances have enabled us to develop tobacco plants with low or ultra-low nicotine levels through various methodologies, such as mutational breeding, genetic engineering, and genome editing. We review the recent progress on genetic manipulation of nicotine production in tobacco, which serves as an excellent example of plant metabolic engineering with profound social implications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tsubasa Shoji
- Instutute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama, Sugitani, Toyama, Toyama 930-0194, Japan
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
| | - Takashi Hashimoto
- Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Ikoma, Nara 630-0192, Japan
| | - Kazuki Saito
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Thon FM, Müller C, Wittmann MJ. The evolution of chemodiversity in plants-From verbal to quantitative models. Ecol Lett 2024; 27:e14365. [PMID: 38362774 DOI: 10.1111/ele.14365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Plants harbour a great chemodiversity, that is diversity of specialised metabolites (SMs), at different scales. For instance, individuals can produce a large number of SMs, and populations can differ in their metabolite composition. Given the ecological and economic importance of plant chemodiversity, it is important to understand how it arises and is maintained over evolutionary time. For other dimensions of biodiversity, that is species diversity and genetic diversity, quantitative models play an important role in addressing such questions. Here, we provide a synthesis of existing hypotheses and quantitative models, that is mathematical models and computer simulations, for the evolution of plant chemodiversity. We describe each model's ingredients, that is the biological processes that shape chemodiversity, the scales it considers and whether it has been formalized as a quantitative model. Although we identify several quantitative models, not all are dynamic and many influential models have remained verbal. To fill these gaps, we outline our vision for the future of chemodiversity modelling. We identify quantitative models used for genetic variation that may be adapted for chemodiversity, and we present a flexible framework for the creation of individual-based models that address different scales of chemodiversity and combine different ingredients that bring this chemodiversity about.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Frans M Thon
- Faculty of Biology, Theoretical Biology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Caroline Müller
- Faculty of Biology, Chemical Ecology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
- Joint Institute for Individualisation in a Changing Environment (JICE), University of Münster and Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Meike J Wittmann
- Faculty of Biology, Theoretical Biology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
- Joint Institute for Individualisation in a Changing Environment (JICE), University of Münster and Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Ono E, Murata J. Exploring the Evolvability of Plant Specialized Metabolism: Uniqueness Out Of Uniformity and Uniqueness Behind Uniformity. PLANT & CELL PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 64:1449-1465. [PMID: 37307423 PMCID: PMC10734894 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcad057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 05/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The huge structural diversity exhibited by plant specialized metabolites has primarily been considered to result from the catalytic specificity of their biosynthetic enzymes. Accordingly, enzyme gene multiplication and functional differentiation through spontaneous mutations have been established as the molecular mechanisms that drive metabolic evolution. Nevertheless, how plants have assembled and maintained such metabolic enzyme genes and the typical clusters that are observed in plant genomes, as well as why identical specialized metabolites often exist in phylogenetically remote lineages, is currently only poorly explained by a concept known as convergent evolution. Here, we compile recent knowledge on the co-presence of metabolic modules that are common in the plant kingdom but have evolved under specific historical and contextual constraints defined by the physicochemical properties of each plant specialized metabolite and the genetic presets of the biosynthetic genes. Furthermore, we discuss a common manner to generate uncommon metabolites (uniqueness out of uniformity) and an uncommon manner to generate common metabolites (uniqueness behind uniformity). This review describes the emerging aspects of the evolvability of plant specialized metabolism that underlie the vast structural diversity of plant specialized metabolites in nature.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eiichiro Ono
- Suntory Global Innovation Center Ltd. (SIC), 8-1-1 Seikadai, Seika-cho, Soraku-gun, Kyoto, 619-0284 Japan
| | - Jun Murata
- Bioorganic Research Institute (SUNBOR), Suntory Foundation for Life Sciences, 8-1-1 Seikadai, Seika-cho, Soraku-gun, Kyoto, 619-0284 Japan
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Hou X, Singh SK, Werkman JR, Liu Y, Yuan Q, Wu X, Patra B, Sui X, Lyu R, Wang B, Liu X, Li Y, Ma W, Pattanaik S, Yuan L. Partial desensitization of MYC2 transcription factor alters the interaction with jasmonate signaling components and affects specialized metabolism. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 252:126472. [PMID: 37625752 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.126472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
The activity of bHLH transcription factor MYC2, a key regulator in jasmonate signaling and plant specialized metabolism, is sensitive to repression by JASMONATE-ZIM-domain (JAZ) proteins and co-activation by the mediator subunit MED25. The substitution of a conserved aspartic acid (D) to asparagine (N) in the JAZ-interacting domain (JID) of Arabidopsis MYC2 affects interaction with JAZ, although the mechanism remained unclear. The effects of the conserved residue MYC2D128 on interaction with MED25 have not been investigated. Using tobacco as a model, we generated all possible substitutions of aspartic acid 128 (D128) in NtMYC2a. NtMYC2aD128N partially desensitized the repression by JAZ proteins, while strongly interacting with MED25, resulting in increased expression of nicotine pathway genes and nicotine accumulation in tobacco hairy roots overexpressing NtMYC2aD128N compared to those overexpressing NtMYC2a. The proline substitution, NtMYC2aD128P, negatively affected transactivation and abolished the interaction with JAZ proteins and MED25. Structural modeling and simulation suggest that the overall stability of the JID binding pocket is a predominant cause for the observed effects of substitutions at D128. The D128N substitution has an overall stabilizing effect on the binding pocket, which is destabilized by D128P. Our study offers an innovative tool to increase the production of plant natural products.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xin Hou
- Department of Tobacco, College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Tai'an 271018, China
| | - Sanjay Kumar Singh
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Kentucky Tobacco Research and Development Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA
| | - Joshua R Werkman
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Kentucky Tobacco Research and Development Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA
| | - Yongliang Liu
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Kentucky Tobacco Research and Development Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA
| | - Qinghua Yuan
- Crop Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement of Guangdong Province, Guangdong Provincial Engineering & Technology Research Center for Tobacco Breeding and Comprehensive Utilization, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Xia Wu
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Kentucky Tobacco Research and Development Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA
| | - Barunava Patra
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Kentucky Tobacco Research and Development Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA
| | - Xueyi Sui
- Tobacco Breeding and Biotechnology Center, Yunnan Academy of Tobacco Agricultural Sciences, Kunming 650021, Yunnan, China
| | - Ruiqing Lyu
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Kentucky Tobacco Research and Development Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA
| | - Bingwu Wang
- Tobacco Breeding and Biotechnology Center, Yunnan Academy of Tobacco Agricultural Sciences, Kunming 650021, Yunnan, China
| | - Xiaoyu Liu
- Pomology Institute, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030815, Shanxi, China
| | - Yongqing Li
- Key Laboratory of South China Agricultural Plant Molecular Analysis and Genetic Improvement, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510520, China
| | - Wei Ma
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Sitakanta Pattanaik
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Kentucky Tobacco Research and Development Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA.
| | - Ling Yuan
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Kentucky Tobacco Research and Development Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Liu Y, Singh SK, Pattanaik S, Wang H, Yuan L. Light regulation of the biosynthesis of phenolics, terpenoids, and alkaloids in plants. Commun Biol 2023; 6:1055. [PMID: 37853112 PMCID: PMC10584869 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05435-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Biosynthesis of specialized metabolites (SM), including phenolics, terpenoids, and alkaloids, is stimulated by many environmental factors including light. In recent years, significant progress has been made in understanding the regulatory mechanisms involved in light-stimulated SM biosynthesis at the transcriptional, posttranscriptional, and posttranslational levels of regulation. While several excellent recent reviews have primarily focused on the impacts of general environmental factors, including light, on biosynthesis of an individual class of SM, here we highlight the regulation of three major SM biosynthesis pathways by light-responsive gene expression, microRNA regulation, and posttranslational modification of regulatory proteins. In addition, we present our future perspectives on this topic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yongliang Liu
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences and Kentucky Tobacco Research and Development Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40546, USA
| | - Sanjay K Singh
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences and Kentucky Tobacco Research and Development Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40546, USA
| | - Sitakanta Pattanaik
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences and Kentucky Tobacco Research and Development Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40546, USA.
| | - Hongxia Wang
- Shanghai Chenshan Plant Science Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences Chenshan Botanical Garden, 3888 Chenhua Road, 201602, Songjiang, Shanghai, China.
| | - Ling Yuan
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences and Kentucky Tobacco Research and Development Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40546, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Shoji T, Sugawara S, Mori T, Kobayashi M, Kusano M, Saito K. Induced production of specialized steroids by transcriptional reprogramming in Petunia hybrida. PNAS NEXUS 2023; 2:pgad326. [PMID: 37920550 PMCID: PMC10619512 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgad326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Plants produce specialized metabolites with defensive properties that are often synthesized through the coordinated regulation of metabolic genes by transcription factors in various biological contexts. In this study, we investigated the regulatory function of the transcription factor PhERF1 from petunia (Petunia hybrida), which belongs to a small group of ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR (ERF) family members that regulate the biosynthesis of bioactive alkaloids and terpenoids in various plant lineages. We examined the effects of transiently overexpressing PhERF1 in petunia leaves on the transcriptome and metabolome, demonstrating the production of a class of specialized steroids, petuniolides, and petuniasterones in these leaves. We also observed the activation of many metabolic genes, including those involved in sterol biosynthesis, as well as clustered genes that encode new metabolic enzymes, such as cytochrome P450 oxidoreductases, 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases, and BAHD acyltransferases. Furthermore, we determined that PhERF1 transcriptionally induces downstream metabolic genes by recognizing specific cis-regulatory elements in their promoters. This study highlights the potential of evolutionarily conserved transcriptional regulators to induce the production of specialized products through transcriptional reprogramming.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tsubasa Shoji
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
- Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Toyama 930-0194, Japan
| | - Satoko Sugawara
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Mori
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
| | - Makoto Kobayashi
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
| | - Miyako Kusano
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Science, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572, Japan
- Tsukuba-Plant Innovation Research Center (T-PIRC), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572, Japan
| | - Kazuki Saito
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
He X, Zhang W, Sabir IA, Jiao C, Li G, Wang Y, Zhu F, Dai J, Liu L, Chen C, Zhang Y, Song C. The spatiotemporal profile of Dendrobium huoshanense and functional identification of bHLH genes under exogenous MeJA using comparative transcriptomics and genomics. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1169386. [PMID: 37235024 PMCID: PMC10206334 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1169386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Alkaloids are one of the main medicinal components of Dendrobium species. Dendrobium alkaloids are mainly composed of terpene alkaloids. Jasmonic acid (JA) induce the biosynthesis of such alkaloids, mainly by enhancing the expression of JA-responsive genes to increase plant resistance and increase the content of alkaloids. Many JA-responsive genes are the target genes of bHLH transcription factors (TFs), especially the MYC2 transcription factor. Methods In this study, the differentially expressed genes involved in the JA signaling pathway were screened out from Dendrobium huoshanense using comparative transcriptomics approaches, revealing the critical roles of basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) family, particularly the MYC2 subfamily. Results and discussion Microsynteny-based comparative genomics demonstrated that whole genome duplication (WGD) and segmental duplication events drove bHLH genes expansion and functional divergence. Tandem duplication accelerated the generation of bHLH paralogs. Multiple sequence alignments showed that all bHLH proteins included bHLH-zip and ACT-like conserved domains. The MYC2 subfamily had a typical bHLH-MYC_N domain. The phylogenetic tree revealed the classification and putative roles of bHLHs. The analysis of cis-acting elements revealed that promoter of the majority of bHLH genes contain multiple regulatory elements relevant to light response, hormone responses, and abiotic stresses, and the bHLH genes could be activated by binding these elements. The expression profiling and qRT-PCR results indicated that bHLH subgroups IIIe and IIId may have an antagonistic role in JA-mediated expression of stress-related genes. DhbHLH20 and DhbHLH21 were considered to be the positive regulators in the early response of JA signaling, while DhbHLH24 and DhbHLH25 might be the negative regulators. Our findings may provide a practical reference for the functional study of DhbHLH genes and the regulation of secondary metabolites.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaomei He
- Anhui Engineering Laboratory for Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Traditional Chinese Medicine Resources, Anhui Engineering Research Center for Eco-agriculture of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Biological and Pharmaceutical Engineering, West Anhui University, Lu’an, China
| | - Wenwu Zhang
- School of Life Science, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Irfan Ali Sabir
- Department of Plant Science, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chunyan Jiao
- College of Life Sciences, Hefei Normal University, Hefei, China
| | - Guohui Li
- Anhui Engineering Laboratory for Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Traditional Chinese Medicine Resources, Anhui Engineering Research Center for Eco-agriculture of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Biological and Pharmaceutical Engineering, West Anhui University, Lu’an, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Anhui Engineering Laboratory for Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Traditional Chinese Medicine Resources, Anhui Engineering Research Center for Eco-agriculture of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Biological and Pharmaceutical Engineering, West Anhui University, Lu’an, China
| | - Fucheng Zhu
- Anhui Engineering Laboratory for Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Traditional Chinese Medicine Resources, Anhui Engineering Research Center for Eco-agriculture of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Biological and Pharmaceutical Engineering, West Anhui University, Lu’an, China
| | - Jun Dai
- Anhui Engineering Laboratory for Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Traditional Chinese Medicine Resources, Anhui Engineering Research Center for Eco-agriculture of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Biological and Pharmaceutical Engineering, West Anhui University, Lu’an, China
| | - Longyun Liu
- School of Bioengineering, Hefei Technology College, Hefei, China
| | - Cunwu Chen
- Anhui Engineering Laboratory for Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Traditional Chinese Medicine Resources, Anhui Engineering Research Center for Eco-agriculture of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Biological and Pharmaceutical Engineering, West Anhui University, Lu’an, China
| | - Yingyu Zhang
- Henan Key Laboratory of Rare Diseases, Endocrinology and Metabolism Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, and College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, China
| | - Cheng Song
- Anhui Engineering Laboratory for Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Traditional Chinese Medicine Resources, Anhui Engineering Research Center for Eco-agriculture of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Biological and Pharmaceutical Engineering, West Anhui University, Lu’an, China
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Swinnen G, De Meyer M, Pollier J, Molina-Hidalgo FJ, Ceulemans E, Venegas-Molina J, De Milde L, Fernández-Calvo P, Ron M, Pauwels L, Goossens A. The basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors MYC1 and MYC2 have a dual role in the regulation of constitutive and stress-inducible specialized metabolism in tomato. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2022; 236:911-928. [PMID: 35838067 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Plants produce specialized metabolites to protect themselves from biotic enemies. Members of the Solanaceae family accumulate phenylpropanoid-polyamine conjugates (PPCs) in response to attackers while also maintaining a chemical barrier of steroidal glycoalkaloids (SGAs). Across the plant kingdom, biosynthesis of such defense compounds is promoted by jasmonate signaling in which clade IIIe basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors play a central role. By characterizing hairy root mutants obtained through Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)-CRISPR associated protein 9 (CRISPR-Cas9) genome editing, we show that the tomato clade IIIe bHLH transcription factors, MYC1 and MYC2, redundantly control jasmonate-inducible PPC and SGA production, and are also essential for constitutive SGA biosynthesis. Double myc1 myc2 loss-of-function tomato hairy roots displayed suppressed constitutive expression of SGA biosynthesis genes, and severely reduced levels of the main tomato SGAs α-tomatine and dehydrotomatine. In contrast, basal expression of genes involved in PPC biosynthesis was not affected. CRISPR-Cas9(VQR) genome editing of a specific cis-regulatory element, targeted by MYC1/2, in the promoter of a SGA precursor biosynthesis gene led to decreased constitutive expression of this gene, but did not affect its jasmonate inducibility. Our results demonstrate that clade IIIe bHLH transcriptional regulators have evolved under the control of distinct regulatory cues to specifically steer constitutive and stress-inducible specialized metabolism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gwen Swinnen
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Margaux De Meyer
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jacob Pollier
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Metabolomics Core, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Francisco Javier Molina-Hidalgo
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Evi Ceulemans
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jhon Venegas-Molina
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Liesbeth De Milde
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Patricia Fernández-Calvo
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Mily Ron
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Laurens Pauwels
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Alain Goossens
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Ribeiro B, Erffelinck ML, Lacchini E, Ceulemans E, Colinas M, Williams C, Van Hamme E, De Clercq R, Perassolo M, Goossens A. Interference between ER stress-related bZIP-type and jasmonate-inducible bHLH-type transcription factors in the regulation of triterpene saponin biosynthesis in Medicago truncatula. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:903793. [PMID: 36247618 PMCID: PMC9562455 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.903793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Triterpene saponins (TS) are a structurally diverse group of metabolites that are widely distributed in plants. They primarily serve as defense compounds and their production is often triggered by biotic stresses through signaling cascades that are modulated by phytohormones such as the jasmonates (JA). Two JA-modulated basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors (TFs), triterpene saponin biosynthesis activating regulator 1 (TSAR1) and TSAR2, have previously been identified as direct activators of TS biosynthesis in the model legume Medicago truncatula. Here, we report on the involvement of the core endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-related basic leucine zipper (bZIP) TFs bZIP17 and bZIP60 in the regulation of TS biosynthesis. Expression and processing of M. truncatula bZIP17 and bZIP60 proteins were altered in roots with perturbed TS biosynthesis or treated with JA. Accordingly, such roots displayed an altered ER network structure. M. truncatula bZIP17 and bZIP60 proteins were shown to localize in the nucleus and appeared to be capable of interfering with the TSAR-mediated transactivation of TS biosynthesis genes. Furthermore, interference between ER stress-related bZIP and JA-modulated bHLH TFs in the regulation of JA-dependent terpene biosynthetic pathways may be widespread in the plant kingdom, as we demonstrate that it also occurs in the regulation of monoterpene indole alkaloid biosynthesis in the medicinal plant Catharanthus roseus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Ribeiro
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Marie-Laure Erffelinck
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Elia Lacchini
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Evi Ceulemans
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Maite Colinas
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Clara Williams
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Rebecca De Clercq
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Maria Perassolo
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
- Cátedra de Biotecnología, Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología y Biotecnología, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Nanobiotecnología (NANOBIOTEC), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alain Goossens
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Smit SJ, Lichman BR. Plant biosynthetic gene clusters in the context of metabolic evolution. Nat Prod Rep 2022; 39:1465-1482. [PMID: 35441651 PMCID: PMC9298681 DOI: 10.1039/d2np00005a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Covering: up to 2022Plants produce a wide range of structurally and biosynthetically diverse natural products to interact with their environment. These specialised metabolites typically evolve in limited taxonomic groups presumably in response to specific selective pressures. With the increasing availability of sequencing data, it has become apparent that in many cases the genes encoding biosynthetic enzymes for specialised metabolic pathways are not randomly distributed on the genome. Instead they are physically linked in structures such as arrays, pairs and clusters. The exact function of these clusters is debated. In this review we take a broad view of gene arrangement in plant specialised metabolism, examining types of structures and variation. We discuss the evolution of biosynthetic gene clusters in the wider context of metabolism, populations and epigenetics. Finally, we synthesise our observations to propose a new hypothesis for biosynthetic gene cluster formation in plants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samuel J Smit
- Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, Department of Biology, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK.
| | - Benjamin R Lichman
- Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, Department of Biology, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Shoji T, Umemoto N, Saito K. Genetic divergence in transcriptional regulators of defense metabolism: insight into plant domestication and improvement. PLANT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 109:401-411. [PMID: 34114167 DOI: 10.1007/s11103-021-01159-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/29/2021] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
A number of mutational changes in transcriptional regulators of defense metabolism have occurred during plant domestication and improvement. Plant domestication and improvement entail genetic changes that underlie divergence in development and metabolism, providing a tremendous model of biological evolution. Plant metabolism produces numerous specialized alkaloids, terpenoids, phenolics, and cyanogenic glucosides with indispensable roles in defense against herbivory and microbial infection. Many compounds toxic or deterrent to predators have been eliminated through domestication and breeding. Series of genes involved in defense metabolism are coordinately regulated by transcription factors that specifically recognize cis-regulatory elements in promoter regions of downstream target genes. Recent developments in DNA sequencing technologies and genomic approaches have facilitated studies of the metabolic and genetic changes in chemical defense that have occurred via human-mediated selection, many of which result from mutations in transcriptional regulators of defense metabolism. In this article, we review such examples in almond (Prunus dulcis), cucumber (Cucumis sativus), pepper (Capsicum spp.), potato (Solanum tuberosum), quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), and related species and discuss insights into the evolution and regulation of metabolic pathways for specialized defense compounds.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tsubasa Shoji
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 230-0045, Japan.
| | - Naoyuki Umemoto
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 230-0045, Japan
| | - Kazuki Saito
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 230-0045, Japan
- Plant Molecular Science Center, Chiba University, Chuo-ku, Chiba, 260-8675, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Nishidono Y, Niwa K, Kitajima A, Watanabe S, Tezuka Y, Arita M, Takabayashi J, Tanaka K. α-Linolenic acid in Papilio machaon larvae regurgitant induces a defensive response in Apiaceae. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2021; 188:112796. [PMID: 34052696 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2021.112796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Papilio machaon hippocrates C. Felder et R. Felder, 1864 (Papilionidae) larvae are pests of plants of the family Apiaceae. It is unclear whether Apiaceae plants show induced defensive responses against P. machaon hippocrates larvae, and if so, how these responses are induced. Comparison of the fatty acid (FA) composition of the leaves of host plants and the regurgitant of P. machaon hippocrates larvae by LC-MS revealed a great increase in α-linolenic acid (α-LA) in the regurgitant compared with the FAs contained in the leaves. However, specific FA amino acid conjugates, known as elicitor compounds, such as volicitin, were not detected. Sterile host plants (Saposhnikovia divaricata (Turcz.) Schischk., Apiaceae) were treated with α-LA to mimic the damage made by P. machaon hippocrates larvae. After α-LA treatment to leaves, induced defensive reactions, i.e., release of volatile compounds such as α- and β-pinene and camphene (possible induced indirect defense) and the accumulation of specialized metabolites such as (R)-falcarinol and bergapten (possible induced direct defense) were observed. These findings highlight the role of α-LA in the interaction between P. machaon hippocrates larvae and Apiaceae host plants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuto Nishidono
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Noji-Higashi, Kusatsu, Shiga, 525-8577, Japan.
| | - Kotaro Niwa
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Noji-Higashi, Kusatsu, Shiga, 525-8577, Japan.
| | - Aoi Kitajima
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Noji-Higashi, Kusatsu, Shiga, 525-8577, Japan.
| | - Shiro Watanabe
- Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama, 930-0194, Japan.
| | - Yasuhiro Tezuka
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokuriku University, Ho-3 Kanagawa-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, 920-1181, Japan.
| | - Masanori Arita
- National Institute of Genetics, 1111 Yata, Mishima, Shizuoka, 411-8540, Japan; RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, 1-7-22 Suehiro, Tsurumi, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 230-0045, Japan.
| | - Junji Takabayashi
- Center for Ecological Research, Kyoto University, 2-509-3 Hirano, Otsu, Shiga, 520-2113, Japan.
| | - Ken Tanaka
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Noji-Higashi, Kusatsu, Shiga, 525-8577, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Bruger EL, Chubiz LM, Rojas Echenique JI, Renshaw CJ, Espericueta NV, Draghi JA, Marx CJ. Genetic Context Significantly Influences the Maintenance and Evolution of Degenerate Pathways. Genome Biol Evol 2021; 13:6245841. [PMID: 33885815 PMCID: PMC8214414 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evab082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the evolution of novel physiological traits is highly relevant for expanding the characterization and manipulation of biological systems. Acquisition of new traits can be achieved through horizontal gene transfer (HGT). Here, we investigate drivers that promote or deter the maintenance of HGT-driven degeneracy, occurring when processes accomplish identical functions through nonidentical components. Subsequent evolution can optimize newly acquired functions; for example, beneficial alleles identified in an engineered Methylorubrum extorquens strain allowed it to utilize a “Foreign” formaldehyde oxidation pathway substituted for its Native pathway for methylotrophic growth. We examined the fitness consequences of interactions between these alleles when they were combined with the Native pathway or both (Dual) pathways. Unlike the Foreign pathway context where they evolved, these alleles were often neutral or deleterious when moved into these alternative genetic backgrounds. However, there were instances where combinations of multiple alleles resulted in higher fitness outcomes than individual allelic substitutions could provide. Importantly, the genetic context accompanying these allelic substitutions significantly altered the fitness landscape, shifting local fitness peaks and restricting the set of accessible evolutionary trajectories. These findings highlight how genetic context can negatively impact the probability of maintaining native and HGT-introduced functions together, making it difficult for degeneracy to evolve. However, in cases where the cost of maintaining degeneracy was mitigated by adding evolved alleles impacting the function of these pathways, we observed rare opportunities for pathway coevolution to occur. Together, our results highlight the importance of genetic context and resulting epistasis in retaining or losing HGT-acquired degenerate functions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eric L Bruger
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, USA.,Institute for Modeling Collaboration and Innovation, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, USA.,Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, USA.,The BEACON Center for the Study of Evolution in Action, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, USA
| | - Lon M Chubiz
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Biology, University of Missouri, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - José I Rojas Echenique
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Caleb J Renshaw
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, USA.,Institute for Modeling Collaboration and Innovation, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, USA
| | - Nora Victoria Espericueta
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, USA.,Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Long Beach, California, USA
| | - Jeremy A Draghi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Institute of Technology, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - Christopher J Marx
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, USA.,Institute for Modeling Collaboration and Innovation, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, USA.,Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, USA.,The BEACON Center for the Study of Evolution in Action, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, USA.,Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Shoji T, Yuan L. ERF Gene Clusters: Working Together to Regulate Metabolism. TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 26:23-32. [PMID: 32883605 DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2020.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2020] [Revised: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Plants produce structurally diverse specialized metabolites, including bioactive alkaloids and terpenoids, in response to biotic and abiotic environmental stresses. The APETALA2/ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR (AP2/ERF) family of transcription factors (TFs) play key roles in regulating biosynthesis of specialized metabolites. Increasing genomic and functional evidence shows that a subset of the ERF genes occurs in clusters on the chromosomes. These jasmonate-responsive ERF TF gene clusters control the biosynthesis of many important metabolites, from natural products, such as nicotine and steroidal glycoalkaloids (SGAs), to pharmaceuticals, such as artemisinin, vinblastine, and vincristine. Here, we review the function, regulation, and evolution of ERF clusters and highlight recent advances in understanding the distinct roles of clustered ERF genes and their possible application in metabolic engineering.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tsubasa Shoji
- Department of Biological Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Ikoma, Japan.
| | - Ling Yuan
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA; South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Lichman BR. The scaffold-forming steps of plant alkaloid biosynthesis. Nat Prod Rep 2020; 38:103-129. [PMID: 32745157 DOI: 10.1039/d0np00031k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Alkaloids from plants are characterised by structural diversity and bioactivity, and maintain a privileged position in both modern and traditional medicines. In recent years, there have been significant advances in elucidating the biosynthetic origins of plant alkaloids. In this review, I will describe the progress made in determining the metabolic origins of the so-called true alkaloids, specialised metabolites derived from amino acids containing a nitrogen heterocycle. By identifying key biosynthetic steps that feature in the majority of pathways, I highlight the key roles played by modifications to primary metabolism, iminium reactivity and spontaneous reactions in the molecular and evolutionary origins of these pathways.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin R Lichman
- Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Lacchini E, Goossens A. Combinatorial Control of Plant Specialized Metabolism: Mechanisms, Functions, and Consequences. Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol 2020; 36:291-313. [PMID: 32559387 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-cellbio-011620-031429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Plants constantly perceive internal and external cues, many of which they need to address to safeguard their proper development and survival. They respond to these cues by selective activation of specific metabolic pathways involving a plethora of molecular players that act and interact in complex networks. In this review, we illustrate and discuss the complexity in the combinatorial control of plant specialized metabolism. We hereby go beyond the intuitive concept of combinatorial control as exerted by modular-acting complexes of transcription factors that govern expression of specialized metabolism genes. To extend this discussion, we also consider all known hierarchical levels of regulation of plant specialized metabolism and their interfaces by referring to reported regulatory concepts from the plant field. Finally, we speculate on possible yet-to-be-discovered regulatory principles of plant specialized metabolism that are inspired by knowledge from other kingdoms of life and areas of biological research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elia Lacchini
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium; , .,Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Alain Goossens
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium; , .,Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Nakabayashi R, Saito K. Higher dimensional metabolomics using stable isotope labeling for identifying the missing specialized metabolism in plants. CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY 2020; 55:84-92. [PMID: 32388402 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2020.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2019] [Revised: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
The exact mechanics of specialized metabolism and its importance throughout plant evolution remain mysterious. Specialized metabolites and their corresponding biosynthetic genes are crucial to understand the reason for the prevalence of certain metabolism. Even though mass spectrometry-based metabolomics has enabled us to acquire data about the structural properties of unknown specialized metabolites as well as known metabolites and their corresponding isomers/analogs, extensive analytical approaches are still required. Herein, we review the most advanced analytical approaches using stable isotope labeling that can be used to identify the unknown specialized metabolites.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ryo Nakabayashi
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan.
| | - Kazuki Saito
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan; Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8675, Japan; Plant Molecular Science Center, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8675, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Hayashi S, Watanabe M, Kobayashi M, Tohge T, Hashimoto T, Shoji T. Genetic Manipulation of Transcriptional Regulators Alters Nicotine Biosynthesis in Tobacco. PLANT & CELL PHYSIOLOGY 2020; 61:1041-1053. [PMID: 32191315 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcaa036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/14/2020] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
The toxic alkaloid nicotine is produced in the roots of Nicotiana species and primarily accumulates in leaves as a specialized metabolite. A series of metabolic and transport genes involved in the nicotine pathway are coordinately upregulated by a pair of jasmonate-responsive AP2/ERF-family transcription factors, NtERF189 and NtERF199, in the roots of Nicotiana tabacum (tobacco). In this study, we explored the potential of manipulating the expression of these transcriptional regulators to alter nicotine biosynthesis in tobacco. The transient overexpression of NtERF189 led to alkaloid production in the leaves of Nicotiana benthamiana and Nicotiana alata. This ectopic production was further enhanced by co-overexpressing a gene encoding a basic helix-loop-helix-family MYC2 transcription factor. Constitutive and leaf-specific overexpression of NtERF189 increased the accumulation of foliar alkaloids in transgenic tobacco plants but negatively affected plant growth. By contrast, in a knockout mutant of NtERF189 and NtERF199 obtained through CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing, alkaloid levels were drastically reduced without causing major growth defects. Metabolite profiling revealed the impact of manipulating the nicotine pathway on a wide range of nitrogen- and carbon-containing metabolites. Our findings provide insights into the biotechnological applications of engineering metabolic pathways by targeting transcription factors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shunya Hayashi
- Department of Biological Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Takayama 8916-5, Ikoma, Nara, 630-0101 Japan
| | - Mutsumi Watanabe
- Department of Biological Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Takayama 8916-5, Ikoma, Nara, 630-0101 Japan
| | - Makoto Kobayashi
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Yokohama, 230-0045 Japan
| | - Takayuki Tohge
- Department of Biological Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Takayama 8916-5, Ikoma, Nara, 630-0101 Japan
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Yokohama, 230-0045 Japan
| | - Takashi Hashimoto
- Department of Biological Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Takayama 8916-5, Ikoma, Nara, 630-0101 Japan
| | - Tsubasa Shoji
- Department of Biological Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Takayama 8916-5, Ikoma, Nara, 630-0101 Japan
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Yokohama, 230-0045 Japan
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Lichman BR, Godden GT, Buell CR. Gene and genome duplications in the evolution of chemodiversity: perspectives from studies of Lamiaceae. CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY 2020; 55:74-83. [PMID: 32344371 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2020.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2019] [Revised: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Plants are reservoirs of extreme chemical diversity, yet biosynthetic pathways remain underexplored in the majority of taxa. Access to improved, inexpensive genomic and computational technologies has recently enhanced our understanding of plant specialized metabolism at the biochemical and evolutionary levels including the elucidation of pathways leading to key metabolites. Furthermore, these approaches have provided insights into the mechanisms of chemical evolution, including neofunctionalization and subfunctionalization, structural variation, and modulation of gene expression. The broader utilization of genomic tools across the plant tree of life, and an expansion of genomic resources from multiple accessions within species or populations, will improve our overall understanding of chemodiversity. These data and knowledge will also lead to greater insight into the selective pressures contributing to and maintaining this diversity, which in turn will enable the development of more accurate predictive models of specialized metabolism in plants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin R Lichman
- Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Grant T Godden
- Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Carol Robin Buell
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, 612 Wilson Road, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA; Plant Resilience Institute, Michigan State University, 612 Wilson Road, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA; MSU AgBioResearch, Michigan State University, 446 West Circle Drive, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Ribeiro B, Lacchini E, Bicalho KU, Mertens J, Arendt P, Vanden Bossche R, Calegario G, Gryffroy L, Ceulemans E, Buitink J, Goossens A, Pollier J. A Seed-Specific Regulator of Triterpene Saponin Biosynthesis in Medicago truncatula. THE PLANT CELL 2020; 32:2020-2042. [PMID: 32303662 PMCID: PMC7268793 DOI: 10.1105/tpc.19.00609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2019] [Revised: 03/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/10/2020] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Plants produce a vast array of defense compounds to protect themselves from pathogen attack or herbivore predation. Saponins are a specific class of defense compounds comprising bioactive glycosides with a steroidal or triterpenoid aglycone backbone. The model legume Medicago truncatula synthesizes two types of saponins, hemolytic saponins and nonhemolytic soyasaponins, which accumulate as specific blends in different plant organs. Here, we report the identification of the seed-specific transcription factor TRITERPENE SAPONIN ACTIVATION REGULATOR3 (TSAR3), which controls hemolytic saponin biosynthesis in developing M. truncatula seeds. Analysis of genes that are coexpressed with TSAR3 in transcriptome data sets from developing M. truncatula seeds led to the identification of CYP88A13, a cytochrome P450 that catalyzes the C-16α hydroxylation of medicagenic acid toward zanhic acid, the final oxidation step of the hemolytic saponin biosynthesis branch in M. truncatula In addition, two uridine diphosphate glycosyltransferases, UGT73F18 and UGT73F19, which glucosylate hemolytic sapogenins at the C-3 position, were identified. The genes encoding the identified biosynthetic enzymes are present in clusters of duplicated genes in the M. truncatula genome. This appears to be a common theme among saponin biosynthesis genes, especially glycosyltransferases, and may be the driving force of the metabolic evolution of saponins.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Ribeiro
- Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Elia Lacchini
- Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Keylla U Bicalho
- Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara, São Paulo 14800-900, Brazil
| | - Jan Mertens
- Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Philipp Arendt
- Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Robin Vanden Bossche
- Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Gabriela Calegario
- Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Lore Gryffroy
- Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Evi Ceulemans
- Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Julia Buitink
- Institut de Recherche en Horticulture et Semences-Unités Mixtes de Recherche, Université d'Angers, INRAE, Institut Agro, SFR 4207 QuaSaV, 49071 Beaucouzé, France
| | - Alain Goossens
- Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jacob Pollier
- Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Metabolomics Core, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Li Y, Winzer T, He Z, Graham IA. Over 100 Million Years of Enzyme Evolution Underpinning the Production of Morphine in the Papaveraceae Family of Flowering Plants. PLANT COMMUNICATIONS 2020; 1:100029. [PMID: 32685922 PMCID: PMC7357826 DOI: 10.1016/j.xplc.2020.100029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Revised: 11/06/2019] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Phylogenomic analysis of whole genome sequences of five benzylisoquinoline alkaloid (BIA)-producing species from the Ranunculales and Proteales orders of flowering plants revealed the sequence and timing of evolutionary events leading to the diversification of these compounds. (S)-Reticuline is a pivotal intermediate in the synthesis of many BIAs and our analyses revealed parallel evolution between the two orders, which diverged ∼122 million years ago (MYA). Berberine is present in species across the entire Ranunculales, and we found co-evolution of genes essential for production of the protoberberine class. The benzophenanthridine class, which includes the antimicrobial compound sanguinarine, is specific to the Papaveraceae family of Ranunculales, and biosynthetic genes emerged after the split with the Ranunculaceae family ∼110 MYA but before the split of the three Papaveraceae species used in this study at ∼77 MYA. The phthalideisoquinoline noscapine and morphinan class of BIAs are exclusive to the opium poppy lineage. Ks estimation of paralogous pairs indicates that morphine biosynthesis evolved more recently than 18 MYA in the Papaver genus. In the preceding 100 million years gene duplication, neofunctionalization and recruitment of additional enzyme classes, combined with gene clustering, gene fusion, and gene amplification, resulted in emergence of medicinally valuable BIAs including morphine and noscapine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yi Li
- Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5YW, UK
| | - Thilo Winzer
- Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5YW, UK
| | - Zhesi He
- Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5YW, UK
| | - Ian A. Graham
- Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5YW, UK
- Corresponding author
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Law J, Ng K, Windram OPF. The Phenotype Paradox: Lessons From Natural Transcriptome Evolution on How to Engineer Plants. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:75. [PMID: 32133018 PMCID: PMC7040092 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.00075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2019] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Plants have evolved genome complexity through iterative rounds of single gene and whole genome duplication. This has led to substantial expansion in transcription factor numbers following preferential retention and subsequent functional divergence of these regulatory genes. Here we review how this simple evolutionary network rewiring process, regulatory gene duplication followed by functional divergence, can be used to inspire synthetic biology approaches that seek to develop novel phenotypic variation for future trait based breeding programs in plants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Justin Law
- Grand Challenges in Ecosystems and the Environment, Imperial College London, Ascot, United Kingdom
| | - Kangbo Ng
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Institute for the Physics of Living Systems, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Oliver P. F. Windram
- Grand Challenges in Ecosystems and the Environment, Imperial College London, Ascot, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Genome-wide and expression pattern analysis of JAZ family involved in stress responses and postharvest processing treatments in Camellia sinensis. Sci Rep 2020; 10:2792. [PMID: 32066857 PMCID: PMC7026426 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-59675-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The JASMONATE-ZIM DOMAIN (JAZ) family genes are key repressors in the jasmonic acid signal transduction pathway. Recently, the JAZ gene family has been systematically characterized in many plants. However, this gene family has not been explored in the tea plant. In this study, 13 CsJAZ genes were identified in the tea plant genome. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the JAZ proteins from tea and other plants clustered into 11 sub-groups. The CsJAZ gene transcriptional regulatory network predictive and expression pattern analyses suggest that these genes play vital roles in abiotic stress responses, phytohormone crosstalk and growth and development of the tea plant. In addition, the CsJAZ gene expression profiles were associated with tea postharvest processing. Our work provides a comprehensive understanding of the CsJAZ family and will help elucidate their contributions to tea quality during tea postharvest processing.
Collapse
|