Integrating Metabolome Evolution and Systematics of Stifftioideae (Asteraceae)

• Grant number: 24/02286-3
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: August 01, 2024 - July 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Organic Chemistry
• Convênio/Acordo: CNPq
• Principal Investigator: Norberto Peporine Lopes
• Grantee: Norberto Peporine Lopes
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 20/02207-5 - Inventorying secondary metabolism applying metabolomic strategies: contribution to the Brazilian biodiversity valuation, AP.BTA.TEM
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/15360-7 - Metabolome Evolution and e Systematics of Stifftioideae (Asteraceae): an integratrive approach., BP.JD

Abstract

We are living in the biodiversity crisis era, due to the extremely high global extinction rates. The Neotropics has the world´s richest flora and Brazil stands out as one of the eight megadiverse countries. However, it is where there are the most unknown species to science, known as the Linnean shortfall, the most fundamental biodiversity shortfall. Furthermore, the biodiversity loss is also greater in this region. When an organism becomes extinct, the possibility of recovering its phylogenetic relationships and ecological interactions, as well as prospecting for any bioactive molecules, are also lost. It is therefore essential that we accelerate the biodiversity knowledge production before it is lost. Plants emit, detect, and respond to chemical stimuli, thus creating an almost unlimited number of interactions through chemical signals. Most of these molecules are classified as secondary metabolites and are an important area of research in our country. Technological and intellectual advances over the last two decades have enabled the development of natural product analysis at various molecular levels, including molecular diversity and taxonomy, chemical ecology, understanding circadian rhythms, among others. These advances have also deepened our understanding of nature to encompass multi-level interactions between organisms in different taxa. The ability to inventory this chemistry has increased our understanding of the function of secondary metabolism. The transdisciplinary nature of evolution makes it the ideal science for understanding the processes that generate and maintain current patterns of diversity, as well as allowing for the integration of different types of biodiversity data. Current diversity is the consequence of various evolutionary processes related to the presence of key innovations, such as new secondary compounds, new interactions, new morphological characters, the colonization of new environments, as well as processes of hybridization and polyploidy. To better understand the biotic and abiotic processes that have shaped Brazilian biodiversity, we will investigate relevant questions about the diversification of Neotropical angiosperms using Stifftioideae as a model. In this sense, we intend to develop a study case on the chemical evolution of the subfamily Stifftioideae (Asteraceae, Angiospermae), using modern high-throughput sequencing methods (NGS), associated with macroevolutionary and metabolomic analytical strategies and the production of a new predictive classification system for Stifftioideae. In this way, this project to establish early career adds scientific and social importance to the thematic project. (AU)