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Magner ET, Freund Saxhaug K, Zambre A, Bruns K, Carroll P, Snell-Rood EC, Hegeman AD, Carter CJ. A multifunctional role for riboflavin in the yellow nectar of Capsicum baccatum and Capsicum pubescens. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024; 243:1991-2007. [PMID: 38874372 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19886] [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: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
A few Capsicum (pepper) species produce yellow-colored floral nectar, but the chemical identity and biological function of the yellow pigment are unknown. A combination of analytical biochemistry techniques was used to identify the pigment that gives Capsicum baccatum and Capsicum pubescens nectars their yellow color. Microbial growth assays, visual modeling, and honey bee preference tests for artificial nectars containing riboflavin were used to assess potential biological roles for the nectar pigment. High concentrations of riboflavin (vitamin B2) give the nectars their intense yellow color. Nectars containing riboflavin generate reactive oxygen species when exposed to light and reduce microbial growth. Visual modeling also indicates that the yellow color is highly conspicuous to bees within the context of the flower. Lastly, field experiments demonstrate that honey bees prefer artificial nectars containing riboflavin. Some Capsicum nectars contain a yellow-colored vitamin that appears to play roles in (1) limiting microbial growth, (2) the visual attraction of bees, and (3) as a reward to nectar-feeding flower visitors (potential pollinators), which is especially interesting since riboflavin is an essential nutrient for brood rearing in insects. These results cumulatively suggest that the riboflavin found in some Capsicum nectars has several functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evin T Magner
- Department of Plant & Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota, 1479 Gortner Avenue, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA
| | | | - Amod Zambre
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA
| | - Kaitlyn Bruns
- Department of Plant & Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota, 1479 Gortner Avenue, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA
| | - Patrick Carroll
- Department of Plant & Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota, 1479 Gortner Avenue, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA
| | - Emilie C Snell-Rood
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA
| | - Adrian D Hegeman
- Department of Plant & Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota, 1479 Gortner Avenue, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA
- Department of Horticultural Science, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA
| | - Clay J Carter
- Department of Plant & Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota, 1479 Gortner Avenue, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA
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2
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Grierson ERP, Thrimawithana AH, van Klink JW, Lewis DH, Carvajal I, Shiller J, Miller P, Deroles SC, Clearwater MJ, Davies KM, Chagné D, Schwinn KE. A phosphatase gene is linked to nectar dihydroxyacetone accumulation in mānuka (Leptospermum scoparium). THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024. [PMID: 38532557 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Floral nectar composition beyond common sugars shows great diversity but contributing genetic factors are generally unknown. Mānuka (Leptospermum scoparium) is renowned for the antimicrobial compound methylglyoxal in its derived honey, which originates from the precursor, dihydroxyacetone (DHA), accumulating in the nectar. Although this nectar trait is highly variable, genetic contribution to the trait is unclear. Therefore, we investigated key gene(s) and genomic regions underpinning this trait. We used RNAseq analysis to identify nectary-associated genes differentially expressed between high and low nectar DHA genotypes. We also used a mānuka high-density linkage map and quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping population, supported by an improved genome assembly, to reveal genetic regions associated with nectar DHA content. Expression and QTL analyses both pointed to the involvement of a phosphatase gene, LsSgpp2. The expression pattern of LsSgpp2 correlated with nectar DHA accumulation, and it co-located with a QTL on chromosome 4. The identification of three QTLs, some of the first reported for a plant nectar trait, indicates polygenic control of DHA content. We have established plant genetics as a key influence on DHA accumulation. The data suggest the hypothesis of LsSGPP2 releasing DHA from DHA-phosphate and variability in LsSgpp2 gene expression contributing to the trait variability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ella R P Grierson
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited (PFR), Palmerston North, 4472, New Zealand
- Te Aka Mātuatua - School of Science, University of Waikato, Hamilton, 3216, New Zealand
| | | | - John W van Klink
- PFR, Chemistry Department, University of Otago, Dunedin, 9016, New Zealand
| | - David H Lewis
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited (PFR), Palmerston North, 4472, New Zealand
| | | | - Jason Shiller
- PFR, Te Puke Research Centre, Te Puke, 3182, New Zealand
| | - Poppy Miller
- PFR, Te Puke Research Centre, Te Puke, 3182, New Zealand
| | | | - Michael J Clearwater
- Te Aka Mātuatua - School of Science, University of Waikato, Hamilton, 3216, New Zealand
| | - Kevin M Davies
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited (PFR), Palmerston North, 4472, New Zealand
| | - David Chagné
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited (PFR), Palmerston North, 4472, New Zealand
| | - Kathy E Schwinn
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited (PFR), Palmerston North, 4472, New Zealand
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3
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Balbuena MS, Buchmann SL, Papaj DR, Raguso RA. Organ-specific volatiles from Sonoran desert Krameria flowers as potential signals for oil-collecting bees. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2024; 218:113937. [PMID: 38035972 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2023.113937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
The evolution of flowers that offer oils as rewards and are pollinated by specialized bees represents a distinctive theme in plant-pollinator co-diversification. Some plants that offer acetylated glycerols as floral oils emit diacetin, a volatile by-product of oil metabolism, which is utilized by oil-collecting bees as an index signal for the presence of floral oil. However, floral oils in the genus Krameria (Krameriaceae) contain β-acetoxy-substituted fatty acids instead of acetylated glycerols, making them unlikely to emit diacetin as an oil-bee attractant. We analyzed floral headspace composition from K. bicolor and K. erecta, native to the Sonoran Desert of southwestern North America, in search of alternative candidates for volatile index signals. Using solid-phase microextraction, combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, we identified 26 and 45 floral volatiles, respectively, from whole flowers and dissected flower parts of these two Krameria species. As expected, diacetin was not detected. Instead, β-ionone emerged as a strong candidate for an index signal, as it was uniquely present in dissected oil-producing floral tissues (elaiophores) of K. bicolor, as well as the larval cells and provisions from its oil-bee pollinator, Centris cockerelli. This finding suggests that the floral oil of K. bicolor is perfused with β-ionone in its tissue of origin and retains the distinctive raspberry-like scent of this volatile after being harvested by C. cockerelli bees. In contrast, the elaiophores of K. erecta, which are not thought to be pollinated by C. cockerelli, produced a blend of anise-related oxygenated aromatics not found in the elaiophores of K. bicolor. Our findings suggest that β-ionone has the potential to impact oil-foraging by C. cockerelli bees through several potential mechanisms, including larval imprinting on scented provisions or innate or learned preferences by foraging adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Sol Balbuena
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.
| | - Stephen L Buchmann
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA; Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA.
| | - Daniel R Papaj
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA.
| | - Robert A Raguso
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.
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4
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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.
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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
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5
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Long ZG, Le JV, Katz BB, Lopez BG, Tenenbaum ED, Semmling B, Schmidt RJ, Grün F, Butts CT, Martin RW. Spatially resolved detection of small molecules from press-dried plant tissue using MALDI imaging. APPLICATIONS IN PLANT SCIENCES 2023; 11:e11539. [PMID: 37915436 PMCID: PMC10617318 DOI: 10.1002/aps3.11539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Premise Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) is a chemical imaging method that can visualize spatial distributions of particular molecules. Plant tissue imaging has so far mostly used cryosectioning, which can be impractical for the preparation of large-area imaging samples, such as full flower petals. Imaging unsectioned plant tissue presents its own difficulties in extracting metabolites to the surface due to the waxy cuticle. Methods We address this by using established delipidation techniques combined with a solvent vapor extraction prior to applying the matrix with many low-concentration sprays. Results Using this procedure, we imaged tissue from three different plant species (two flowers and one carnivorous plant leaf). Material factorization analysis of the resulting data reveals a wide range of plant-specific small molecules with varying degrees of localization to specific portions of the tissue samples, while facilitating detection and removal of signal from background sources. Conclusions This work demonstrates applicability of MALDI-MSI to press-dried plant samples without freezing or cryosectioning, setting the stage for spatially resolved molecule identification. Increased mass resolution and inclusion of tandem mass spectrometry are necessary next steps to allow more specific and reliable compound identification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zane G. Long
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of CaliforniaIrvineCalifornia92697‐2025USA
| | - Jonathan V. Le
- Department of Molecular Biology and BiochemistryUniversity of CaliforniaIrvineCalifornia92697‐3900USA
| | - Benjamin B. Katz
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of CaliforniaIrvineCalifornia92697‐2025USA
| | - Belen G. Lopez
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of CaliforniaIrvineCalifornia92697‐2025USA
| | | | - Bonnie Semmling
- The Chrysler Herbarium and Mycological Collection, School of Environmental and Biological SciencesRutgers UniversityNew BrunswickNew Jersey08901USA
| | - Ryan J. Schmidt
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural ResourcesRutgers UniversityNew BrunswickNew Jersey08901USA
| | - Felix Grün
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of CaliforniaIrvineCalifornia92697‐2025USA
| | - Carter T. Butts
- Departments of Sociology, Statistics, Computer Science, and Electrical Engineering and Computer ScienceUniversity of CaliforniaIrvineCalifornia92697USA
| | - Rachel W. Martin
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of CaliforniaIrvineCalifornia92697‐2025USA
- Department of Molecular Biology and BiochemistryUniversity of CaliforniaIrvineCalifornia92697‐3900USA
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6
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Lyu X, Li YH, Li Y, Li D, Han C, Hong H, Tian Y, Han L, Liu B, Qiu LJ. The domestication-associated L1 gene encodes a eucomic acid synthase pleiotropically modulating pod pigmentation and shattering in soybean. MOLECULAR PLANT 2023:S1674-2052(23)00169-7. [PMID: 37433301 DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2023.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
Pod coloration is a domestication-related trait in soybean, with modern cultivars typically displaying brown or tan pods, while their wild relative, Glycine soja, possesses black pods. However, the factors regulating this color variation remain unknown. In this study, we cloned and characterized L1, the classical locus responsible for black pods in soybean. By using map-based cloning and genetic analyses, we identified the causal gene of L1 and revealed that it encodes a hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A (CoA) lyase-like (HMGL-like) domain protein. Biochemical assays showed that L1 functions as a eucomic acid synthase and facilitates the synthesis of eucomic acid and piscidic acid, both of which contribute to coloration of pods and seed coats in soybean. Interestingly, we found that L1 plants are more prone to pod shattering under light exposure than l1 null mutants because dark pigmentation increases photothermal efficiency. Hence, pleiotropic effects of L1 on pod color and shattering, as well as seed pigmentation, likely contributed to the preference for l1 alleles during soybean domestication and improvement. Collectively, our study provides new insights into the mechanism of pod coloration and identifies a new target for future de novo domestication of legume crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangguang Lyu
- The National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement (NFCRI), Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Ying-Hui Li
- The National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement (NFCRI), Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China; Key Laboratory of Grain Crop Genetic Resources Evaluation and Utilization, Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Yanfei Li
- The National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement (NFCRI), Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China; Key Laboratory of Grain Crop Genetic Resources Evaluation and Utilization, Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China; Key Lab of Chinese Medicine Resources Conservation, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People''s Republic of China, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Delin Li
- The National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement (NFCRI), Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China; Key Laboratory of Grain Crop Genetic Resources Evaluation and Utilization, Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Chao Han
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Huilong Hong
- The National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement (NFCRI), Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China; Key Laboratory of Grain Crop Genetic Resources Evaluation and Utilization, Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Yu Tian
- The National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement (NFCRI), Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China; Key Laboratory of Grain Crop Genetic Resources Evaluation and Utilization, Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Lida Han
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Bin Liu
- The National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement (NFCRI), Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China.
| | - Li-Juan Qiu
- The National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement (NFCRI), Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China; Key Laboratory of Grain Crop Genetic Resources Evaluation and Utilization, Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China.
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7
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Wong DCJ, Pichersky E, Peakall R. Many different flowers make a bouquet: Lessons from specialized metabolite diversity in plant-pollinator interactions. CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 73:102332. [PMID: 36652780 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2022.102332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Flowering plants have evolved extraordinarily diverse metabolites that underpin the floral visual and olfactory signals enabling plant-pollinator interactions. In some cases, these metabolites also provide unusual rewards that specific pollinators depend on. While some metabolites are shared by most flowering plants, many have evolved in restricted lineages in response to the specific selection pressures encountered within different niches. The latter are designated as specialized metabolites. Recent investigations continue to uncover a growing repertoire of unusual specialized metabolites. Increased accessibility to cutting-edge multi-omics technologies (e.g. genome, transcriptome, proteome, metabolome) is now opening new doors to simultaneously uncover the molecular basis of their synthesis and their evolution across diverse plant lineages. Drawing upon the recent literature, this perspective discusses these aspects and, where known, their ecological and evolutionary relevance. A primer on omics-guided approaches to discover the genetic and biochemical basis of functional specialized metabolites is also provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darren C J Wong
- Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
| | - Eran Pichersky
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Rod Peakall
- Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
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8
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Magner ET, Roy R, Freund Saxhaug K, Zambre A, Bruns K, Snell-Rood EC, Hampton M, Hegeman AD, Carter CJ. Post-secretory synthesis of a natural analog of iron-gall ink in the black nectar of Melianthus spp. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2023. [PMID: 36880409 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The black nectar produced by Melianthus flowers is thought to serve as a visual attractant to bird pollinators, but the chemical identity and synthesis of the black pigment are unknown. A combination of analytical biochemistry, transcriptomics, proteomics, and enzyme assays was used to identify the pigment that gives Melianthus nectar its black color and how it is synthesized. Visual modeling of pollinators was also used to infer a potential function of the black coloration. High concentrations of ellagic acid and iron give the nectar its dark black color, which can be recapitulated through synthetic solutions containing only ellagic acid and iron(iii). The nectar also contains a peroxidase that oxidizes gallic acid to form ellagic acid. In vitro reactions containing the nectar peroxidase, gallic acid, hydrogen peroxide, and iron(iii) fully recreate the black color of the nectar. Visual modeling indicates that the black color is highly conspicuous to avian pollinators within the context of the flower. Melianthus nectar contains a natural analog of iron-gall ink, which humans have used since at least medieval times. This pigment is derived from an ellagic acid-Fe complex synthesized in the nectar and is likely involved in the attraction of passerine pollinators endemic to southern Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evin T Magner
- Department of Plant & Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota, 1479 Gortner Avenue, 140 Gortner Lab, St Paul, MN, 55108, USA
| | - Rahul Roy
- Department of Plant & Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota, 1479 Gortner Avenue, 140 Gortner Lab, St Paul, MN, 55108, USA
- Department of Biology, St. Catherine University, St Paul, MN, 55105, USA
| | - Katrina Freund Saxhaug
- Department of Horticultural Science, University of Minnesota, Room 290 Alderman Hall, 1970 Folwell Avenue, St Paul, MN, 55108, USA
| | - Amod Zambre
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN, 55108, USA
| | - Kaitlyn Bruns
- Department of Plant & Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota, 1479 Gortner Avenue, 140 Gortner Lab, St Paul, MN, 55108, USA
| | - Emilie C Snell-Rood
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN, 55108, USA
| | - Marshall Hampton
- Department of Mathematics & Statistics, University of Minnesota Duluth, Duluth, MN, 55812, USA
| | - Adrian D Hegeman
- Department of Plant & Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota, 1479 Gortner Avenue, 140 Gortner Lab, St Paul, MN, 55108, USA
- Department of Horticultural Science, University of Minnesota, Room 290 Alderman Hall, 1970 Folwell Avenue, St Paul, MN, 55108, USA
| | - Clay J Carter
- Department of Plant & Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota, 1479 Gortner Avenue, 140 Gortner Lab, St Paul, MN, 55108, USA
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9
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Parks HM, Cinelli MA, Bedewitz MA, Grabar JM, Hurney SM, Walker KD, Jones AD, Barry CS. Redirecting tropane alkaloid metabolism reveals pyrrolidine alkaloid diversity in Atropa belladonna. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2023; 237:1810-1825. [PMID: 36451537 PMCID: PMC10107824 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Plant-specialized metabolism is complex, with frequent examples of highly branched biosynthetic pathways, and shared chemical intermediates. As such, many plant-specialized metabolic networks are poorly characterized. The N-methyl Δ1 -pyrrolinium cation is a simple pyrrolidine alkaloid and precursor of pharmacologically important tropane alkaloids. Silencing of pyrrolidine ketide synthase (AbPyKS) in the roots of Atropa belladonna (Deadly Nightshade) reduces tropane alkaloid abundance and causes high N-methyl Δ1 -pyrrolinium cation accumulation. The consequences of this metabolic shift on alkaloid metabolism are unknown. In this study, we utilized discovery metabolomics coupled with AbPyKS silencing to reveal major changes in the root alkaloid metabolome of A. belladonna. We discovered and annotated almost 40 pyrrolidine alkaloids that increase when AbPyKS activity is reduced. Suppression of phenyllactate biosynthesis, combined with metabolic engineering in planta, and chemical synthesis indicates several of these pyrrolidines share a core structure formed through the nonenzymatic Mannich-like decarboxylative condensation of the N-methyl Δ1 -pyrrolinium cation with 2-O-malonylphenyllactate. Decoration of this core scaffold through hydroxylation and glycosylation leads to mono- and dipyrrolidine alkaloid diversity. This study reveals the previously unknown complexity of the A. belladonna root metabolome and creates a foundation for future investigation into the biosynthesis, function, and potential utility of these novel alkaloids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah M. Parks
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyMichigan State UniversityEast LansingMI48824USA
| | - Maris A. Cinelli
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyMichigan State UniversityEast LansingMI48824USA
| | | | - Josh M. Grabar
- Department of HorticultureMichigan State UniversityEast LansingMI48824USA
| | - Steven M. Hurney
- Department of ChemistryMichigan State UniversityEast LansingMI48824USA
| | - Kevin D. Walker
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyMichigan State UniversityEast LansingMI48824USA
- Department of ChemistryMichigan State UniversityEast LansingMI48824USA
| | - A. Daniel Jones
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyMichigan State UniversityEast LansingMI48824USA
| | - Cornelius S. Barry
- Department of HorticultureMichigan State UniversityEast LansingMI48824USA
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10
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Funamoto D. Brown-colored nectar in the insect-pollinated flowers of Asian moonseed. Ecology 2023; 104:e3965. [PMID: 36565303 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Daichi Funamoto
- The Botanical Gardens, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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11
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Drummond CP, Renner T. Genomic insights into the evolution of plant chemical defense. CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY 2022; 68:102254. [PMID: 35777286 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2022.102254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Plant trait evolution can be impacted by common mechanisms of genome evolution, including whole-genome and small-scale duplication, rearrangement, and selective pressures. With the increasing accessibility of genome sequencing for non-model species, comparative studies of trait evolution among closely related or divergent lineages have supported investigations into plant chemical defense. Plant defensive compounds include major chemical classes, such as terpenoids, alkaloids, and phenolics, and are used in primary and secondary plant functions. These include the promotion of plant health, facilitation of pollination, defense against pathogens, and responses to a rapidly changing climate. We discuss mechanisms of genome evolution and use examples from recent studies to impress a stronger understanding of the link between genotype and phenotype as it relates to the evolution of plant chemical defense. We conclude with considerations for how to leverage genomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, and functional assays for studying the emergence and evolution of chemical defense systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloe P Drummond
- The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Entomology, 501 ASI Building University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Tanya Renner
- The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Entomology, 501 ASI Building University Park, PA 16802, USA
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12
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Nicolson SW. Sweet solutions: nectar chemistry and quality. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2022; 377:20210163. [PMID: 35491604 PMCID: PMC9058545 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Nectar, the main floral reward for pollinators, varies greatly in composition and concentration. The assumption that nectar quality is equivalent to its sugar (energy) concentration is too simple. Diverse non-sugar components, especially amino acids and secondary metabolites, play various roles in nutrition and health of pollinators. Many nectar compounds have indirect effects by altering the foraging behaviour of pollinators or protecting them from disease. This review also emphasizes the water component of nectar, often ignored because of evaporative losses and difficulties in sampling small nectar volumes. Nectar properties vary with environmental factors, pollinator visits and microbial contamination. Pollination mutualisms depend on the ability of insect and vertebrate pollinators to cope with and benefit from the variation and diversity in nectar chemistry. This article is part of the theme issue 'Natural processes influencing pollinator health: from chemistry to landscapes'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan W. Nicolson
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
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Katlein N, Ray M, Wilkinson A, Claude J, Kiskowski M, Wang B, Glaberman S, Chiari Y. Does colour impact responses to images in geckos? J Zool (1987) 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- N. Katlein
- Department of Biology University of South Alabama Mobile AL USA
| | - M. Ray
- Department of Biology University of South Alabama Mobile AL USA
| | - A. Wilkinson
- School of Life Sciences University of Lincoln Lincoln UK
| | - J. Claude
- UMR UM/CNRS/IRD/EPHE Institut des Sciences de l’Evolution de Montpellier MontpellierFrance
| | - M. Kiskowski
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics University of South Alabama Mobile AL USA
| | - B. Wang
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics University of South Alabama Mobile AL USA
| | - S. Glaberman
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy George Mason University Fairfax VA USA
| | - Y. Chiari
- Department of Biology University of South Alabama Mobile AL USA
- Department of Biology George Mason University Fairfax VA USA
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