Identification of early quassinoid biosynthesis in the invasive tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima) confirms evolutionary origin from protolimonoids
The tree of heaven, Ailanthus altissima (MILL.) SWINGLE, is a globally invasive plant known to secrete allelopathic metabolites called quassinoids. Quassinoids are highly modified triterpenoids. So far, nothing has been known about the biochemical basis of quassinoid biosynthesis. Here, based on tra...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-08-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Plant Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2022.958138/full |
| _version_ | 1828151226322124800 |
|---|---|
| author | Ling Chuang Shenyu Liu Dave Biedermann Jakob Franke Jakob Franke |
| author_facet | Ling Chuang Shenyu Liu Dave Biedermann Jakob Franke Jakob Franke |
| author_sort | Ling Chuang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The tree of heaven, Ailanthus altissima (MILL.) SWINGLE, is a globally invasive plant known to secrete allelopathic metabolites called quassinoids. Quassinoids are highly modified triterpenoids. So far, nothing has been known about the biochemical basis of quassinoid biosynthesis. Here, based on transcriptome and metabolome data of Ailanthus altissima, we present the first three steps of quassinoid biosynthesis, which are catalysed by an oxidosqualene cyclase and two cytochrome P450 monooxygenases, resulting in the formation of the protolimonoid melianol. Strikingly, these steps are identical to the first steps of the biosynthesis of limonoids, structurally different triterpenoids from sister plant families within the same order Sapindales. Our results are therefore not only important to fully understand the biosynthesis of complex triterpenoids in plants, but also confirm the long-standing hypothesis that quassinoids and limonoids share an evolutionary origin. In addition, our transcriptome data for Ailanthus altissima will be beneficial to other researchers investigating the physiology and ecology of this invasive tree. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T21:54:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3ffca957498e4e748fa58dbe87bc7dc6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-462X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T21:54:46Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Plant Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-3ffca957498e4e748fa58dbe87bc7dc62022-12-22T04:01:09ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2022-08-011310.3389/fpls.2022.958138958138Identification of early quassinoid biosynthesis in the invasive tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima) confirms evolutionary origin from protolimonoidsLing Chuang0Shenyu Liu1Dave Biedermann2Jakob Franke3Jakob Franke4Centre of Biomolecular Drug Research, Leibniz University Hannover, Hanover, GermanyCentre of Biomolecular Drug Research, Leibniz University Hannover, Hanover, GermanyCentre of Biomolecular Drug Research, Leibniz University Hannover, Hanover, GermanyCentre of Biomolecular Drug Research, Leibniz University Hannover, Hanover, GermanyInstitute of Botany, Leibniz University Hannover, Hanover, GermanyThe tree of heaven, Ailanthus altissima (MILL.) SWINGLE, is a globally invasive plant known to secrete allelopathic metabolites called quassinoids. Quassinoids are highly modified triterpenoids. So far, nothing has been known about the biochemical basis of quassinoid biosynthesis. Here, based on transcriptome and metabolome data of Ailanthus altissima, we present the first three steps of quassinoid biosynthesis, which are catalysed by an oxidosqualene cyclase and two cytochrome P450 monooxygenases, resulting in the formation of the protolimonoid melianol. Strikingly, these steps are identical to the first steps of the biosynthesis of limonoids, structurally different triterpenoids from sister plant families within the same order Sapindales. Our results are therefore not only important to fully understand the biosynthesis of complex triterpenoids in plants, but also confirm the long-standing hypothesis that quassinoids and limonoids share an evolutionary origin. In addition, our transcriptome data for Ailanthus altissima will be beneficial to other researchers investigating the physiology and ecology of this invasive tree.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2022.958138/fullquassinoidstree of heavenAilanthus altissimatriterpeneplant biochemistryspecialised metabolism |
| spellingShingle | Ling Chuang Shenyu Liu Dave Biedermann Jakob Franke Jakob Franke Identification of early quassinoid biosynthesis in the invasive tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima) confirms evolutionary origin from protolimonoids Frontiers in Plant Science quassinoids tree of heaven Ailanthus altissima triterpene plant biochemistry specialised metabolism |
| title | Identification of early quassinoid biosynthesis in the invasive tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima) confirms evolutionary origin from protolimonoids |
| title_full | Identification of early quassinoid biosynthesis in the invasive tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima) confirms evolutionary origin from protolimonoids |
| title_fullStr | Identification of early quassinoid biosynthesis in the invasive tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima) confirms evolutionary origin from protolimonoids |
| title_full_unstemmed | Identification of early quassinoid biosynthesis in the invasive tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima) confirms evolutionary origin from protolimonoids |
| title_short | Identification of early quassinoid biosynthesis in the invasive tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima) confirms evolutionary origin from protolimonoids |
| title_sort | identification of early quassinoid biosynthesis in the invasive tree of heaven ailanthus altissima confirms evolutionary origin from protolimonoids |
| topic | quassinoids tree of heaven Ailanthus altissima triterpene plant biochemistry specialised metabolism |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2022.958138/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lingchuang identificationofearlyquassinoidbiosynthesisintheinvasivetreeofheavenailanthusaltissimaconfirmsevolutionaryoriginfromprotolimonoids AT shenyuliu identificationofearlyquassinoidbiosynthesisintheinvasivetreeofheavenailanthusaltissimaconfirmsevolutionaryoriginfromprotolimonoids AT davebiedermann identificationofearlyquassinoidbiosynthesisintheinvasivetreeofheavenailanthusaltissimaconfirmsevolutionaryoriginfromprotolimonoids AT jakobfranke identificationofearlyquassinoidbiosynthesisintheinvasivetreeofheavenailanthusaltissimaconfirmsevolutionaryoriginfromprotolimonoids AT jakobfranke identificationofearlyquassinoidbiosynthesisintheinvasivetreeofheavenailanthusaltissimaconfirmsevolutionaryoriginfromprotolimonoids |