Low-Copy Genes in Terpenoid Metabolism: The Evolution and Expression of MVK and DXR Genes in Angiosperms

Author(s)

Silva, Natacha ^[1] ; Ivamoto-Suzuki, Suzana Tiemi ^{[1, 2]} ; Camargo, Paula Oliveira ^{[1, 2]} ; Rosa, Raissa Scalzoni ^{[1, 2]} ; Protasio Pereira, Luiz Filipe ^[3] ; Domingues, Douglas Silva ^{[1, 2]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Estadual Paulista, Inst Biociencias, Dept Biodiversidade, UNESP, BR-13506900 Rio Claro, SP - Brazil

^[2] Protasio Pereira, Luiz Filipe, Empresa Brasileira Pesquisa Agropecuaria Embrapa, Lab Biotecnol Vegetal, BR-86047902 Londrina, PR, Brazil.Silva, Natacha, Univ Estadual Paulista, Inst Biociencias, Dept Biodiversidade, UNESP, BR-13506900 Rio Claro, SP - Brazil

^[3] Empresa Brasileira Pesquisa Agropecuaria Embrapa, Lab Biotecnol Vegetal, BR-86047902 Londrina, PR - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: PLANTS-BASEL; v. 9, n. 4 APR 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Terpenoids are a diverse class of metabolites that impact plant metabolism in response to environmental cues. They are synthesized either via a predominantly cytosolic (MVA) pathway or a plastidic pathway (MEP). In Arabidopsis, several enzymes from the MVA and MEP pathways are encoded by gene families, excluding MVK and DXR, which are single-copy genes. In this study, we assess the diversity, evolution and expression of DXR and MVK genes in selected angiosperms and Coffea arabica in particular. Evolutionary analysis revealed that DXR and MVK underwent purifying selection, but the selection effect for DXR was stronger than it was for MVK. Digital gene expression (DGE) profile analysis of six species revealed that expression levels of MVK in flowers and roots were high, whereas for DXR peak values were observed in leaves. In C. arabica, both genes were highly expressed in flowers, and CaDXR was upregulated in response to methyl jasmonate. C. arabica DGE data were validated by assessing gene expression in selected organs, and by plants treated with hexanoic acid (Hx) using RT-qPCR. MVK expression was upregulated in roots treated with Hx. CaDXR was downregulated in leaves by Hx treatment in a genotype-specific manner, indicating a differential response to priming. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/01455-2 - Biochemical and molecular basis of the metabolic network of diterpenes, bioactive and natural compounds in coffee
• Grantee: Suzana Tiemi Ivamoto
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 16/10896-0 - Can hexanoic acid signaling modulate the transcriptome, metabolome and pathogen development in coffee trees?
• Grantee: Douglas Silva Domingues
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants