Identification of BAHD-acyltransferase enzymes involved in ingenane diterpenoid biosynthesis.

The plant family Euphorbiaceae is an abundant source of structurally complex diterpenoids, many of which have reported anticancer, anti-HIV, and anti-inflammatory activities. Among these, ingenol-3-angelate (1a; tradename: Picato®), isolated from Euphorbia peplus, has potent antitumor activity. We report the discovery and characterization of the first genes linked to committed steps of ingenol-3-angelate (1a) biosynthesis in E.

A pseudoenzyme enables indole biosynthesis in eudicot plants.

Indole is an important biomolecule in plants, essential for amino acid biosynthesis, defense, pollinator attraction and plant-plant communication. Its biosynthesis is reported to be catalyzed by standalone indole-3-glycerol phosphate lyases, which are, however, absent in core eudicots. Here we show that, in core eudicots, indole production for defense and signaling occurs through an alternative pathway.

Independent evolution of plant natural products: Formation of benzoxazinoids in Consolida orientalis (Ranunculaceae).

Benzoxazinoids (BXDs) are important defense compounds produced by a number of species from different, evolutionarily unrelated plant families. While BXD biosynthesis has been extensively studied in the grasses (monocots) and core eudicots, the mechanism of BXD synthesis in the basal eudicots is still unclear. We used an integrated metabolomics and transcriptomics approach to elucidate the BXD pathway in Consolida orientalis, a Ranunculaceae species known to produce the BXD DIBOA-Glc.

Reinventing metabolic pathways: Independent evolution of benzoxazinoids in flowering plants.

Benzoxazinoids (BXDs) form a class of indole-derived specialized plant metabolites with broad antimicrobial and antifeedant properties. Unlike most specialized metabolites, which are typically lineage-specific, BXDs occur sporadically in a number of distantly related plant orders. This observation suggests that BXD biosynthesis arose independently numerous times in the plant kingdom.

The wheat dioxygenase BX6 is involved in the formation of benzoxazinoids in planta and contributes to plant defense against insect herbivores.

Benzoxazinoids are plant specialized metabolites with defense properties, highly abundant in wheat (Triticum), one of the world's most important crops. The goal of our study was to characterize dioxygenase BX6 genes in tetraploid and hexaploid wheat genotypes and to elucidate their effects on defense against herbivores. Phylogenetic analysis revealed four BX6 genes in the hexaploid wheat T.