Article
Plant Sciences
Evan V. Saldivar, Yezhang Ding, Elly Poretsky, Skylar Bird, Anna K. Block, Alisa Huffaker, Eric A. Schmelz
Summary: In maize, fungal-elicited immune responses lead to the production of various sesquiterpenoids and diterpenoids as antibiotics. Through metabolic profiling, a chromosome 1 locus associated with five candidate sesquiterpenoids was identified. Enzyme co-expression studies confirmed the production of specific terpenoids by ZmTPS27 and ZmTPS8. In vitro bioassays showed that the terpenoid cubebol, produced by ZmTPS8, exhibits significant antifungal activity.
Article
Plant Sciences
Varun Dwivedi, Sarma Rajeev Kumar, H. B. Shilpashree, Ram Krishna, Srinivas Rao, Ajit K. Shasany, Shannon B. Olsson, Dinesh A. Nagegowda
Summary: Research has found that terpene synthase StTPS18 plays an important role in bacterial defense in potatoes. Overexpression of StTPS18 can enhance tolerance to bacterial pathogens by upregulating the expression of phytosterol biosynthesis and defense genes.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Catia Pereira, Ander Castander-Olarieta, Itziar A. Montalban, Vera M. Mendes, Sandra Correia, Ana Pedrosa, Bruno Manadas, Paloma Moncalean, Jorge Canhoto
Summary: Understanding the physiological and molecular adjustments during tree stress response is crucial for forest management and breeding programs. Somatic embryogenesis serves as a model to study stress response mechanisms. Heat stress during somatic embryogenesis promotes plant resilience and affects protein production, metabolism regulation, cell division, and amino acid concentrations.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Victor Forman, Dan Luo, Fernando Geu-Flores, Rene Lemcke, David R. Nelson, Sotirios C. Kampranis, Dan Staerk, Birger Lindberg Moller, Irini Pateraki
Summary: The ginkgo tree is considered a living fossil with a long history of morphological stasis. Its resilience is attributed to unique specialized metabolites. The study uncovers the early ginkgolide biosynthesis pathway.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Minna Blomqvist, Paivi Lyytikainen-Saarenmaa, Maiju Kosunen, Tuula Kantola, Markus Holopainen
Summary: The study found significant impacts of pine sawfly on the growth of Scots pine, with different levels of defoliation resulting in varying growth and economic losses. The intensity and duration of defoliation have a significant impact on the economic losses caused by the sawfly.
Article
Plant Sciences
Yiting Wang, Jie Zou, Jiali Li, Fanna Kong, Lina Xu, Dafeng Xu, Jiaxin Li, Huaying Yang, Lin Zhang, Tingchun Li, Honghong Fan
Summary: Terpenes are important secondary metabolites that play a role in the defense against pests and pathogens in maize. This study identified and analyzed 43 maize terpene synthase genes (ZmTPS) and found differential expression patterns in response to corn borer attacks. One of the genes, Zm00001d045054, was identified as d-limonene synthase and named ZmDLS. It was upregulated in response to corn borer bites and more susceptible to Fusarium graminearum infection.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Huong Thi Diem Tran, Hong Thi Thuy Nguyen, Tram Bich Huynh, Hang Nguyet Nguyen, Long Thanh Nguyen, Nhi Uyen Tran, Binh Thi My Pham, Du Huy Nguyen, Thanh Tran, Thuong Thi Hong Nguyen
Summary: In this study, a cDNA sequence encoding a putative terpene synthase, HbTPS20, was obtained from the bark tissues of Hevea brasiliensis. HbTPS20 was identified as an active linalool synthase and its expression was significantly upregulated in wounded and MeJA-treated bark tissues, indicating its involvement in induced stress responses of rubber.
JOURNAL OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Enrica Alicandri, Stefano Covino, Bartolomeo Sebastiani, Anna Rita Paolacci, Maurizio Badiani, Agostino Sorgona, Mario Ciaffi
Summary: In this study, a quantitative analysis of monoterpene composition was carried out in different tissues of Pinus nigra. Seven monoterpene synthase genes were isolated from the same plant tissues, and their expression profiles were found to be consistent with the corresponding metabolite profiles.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Si Chen, Peifeng Xie, Yeye Li, Xiaxia Wang, Huihui Liu, Shanshan Wang, Wenbo Han, Ruimei Wu, Xinlei Li, Yuefeng Guan, Zhenbiao Yang, Xiaomin Yu
Summary: Terpenoid volatiles play critical roles in the floral odors of tea products. A new ocimene synthase gene, CsOCS, has been isolated from tea plants, which produces (E)-beta-ocimene and (Z)-beta-ocimene in plastids. Treatment with exogenous methyl jasmonate enhances the emission of ocimene from tea leaves, indicating CsOCS as a key enzyme for beta-ocimene synthesis during oolong tea processing.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Rachel Davidovich-Rikanati, Einat Bar, Gal Hivert, Xing-Qi Huang, Carolina Hoppen-Tonial, Vered Khankin, Karin Rand, Amal Abofreih, Joelle K. Muhlemann, Jose Abramo Marchese, Yoram Shotland, Natalia Dudareva, Moshe Inbar, Efraim Lewinsohn
Summary: Insects induce specialized anatomical structures in their plant hosts to gain food and shelter, accumulating plant defensive metabolites to protect themselves. Research shows that the monoterpene content in induced galls is higher than in leaves of their hosts due to a general up-regulation of key structural genes in terpene biosynthetic pathways. This up-regulation of tree-specific genes transcriptionally reprograms host terpene pathways, boosting the accumulation of defensive compounds for insect protection.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yunyun Cao, Lun Liu, Kangsheng Ma, Wenjing Wang, Hongmei Lv, Ming Gao, Xinman Wang, Xichun Zhang, Shuxin Ren, Na Zhang, Yang-Dong Guo
Summary: This study identified the SlJIG gene in tomato as a direct target of MYC2, involved in JA-induced terpene biosynthesis and resistance against cotton bollworm and B. cinerea. SlJIG knockout plants showed lower terpene contents and weaker expression of JA-responsive defense genes.
JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Physiology
Lei Yang, Xiaomin Yao, Baosheng Liu, Yangchun Han, Rui Ji, Jiafei Ju, Xiaona Zhang, Shuwen Wu, Jichao Fang, Yang Sun
Summary: Significant research progress has been made on the roles of tps46 in rice defense. The study found that (E)-beta-farnesene (E beta f) has physiological effects and potential mechanisms against Chilo suppressalis, impairing their development and survival by disrupting hormone balance.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Miaoling Yang, Wei Zhang, Zhaoyang Lv, Liming Shi, Kecheng Zhang, Beibei Ge
Summary: This study investigated the potential application of wuyiencin in inducing defense responses in soybean against S. sclerotiorum. The results showed that wuyiencin treatment reduced lesion size and increased antioxidant enzyme activity in soybean plants. It also increased the activity of several defense enzymes, suggesting its involvement in soybean defense responses to S. sclerotiorum.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Meilin Xu, Yifan Jiang, Sumei Chen, Fadi Chen, Feng Chen
Summary: The study reveals that Chrysanthemum morifolium employs indirect defense strategy to attract natural enemies of herbivorous insects by emitting JA-dependent volatile terpenes, indicating an important defense mechanism against insects in this species.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Dahe Qiao, Mengsha Tang, Ling Jin, Xiaozeng Mi, Hongrong Chen, Junyan Zhu, Shengrui Liu, Chaoling Wei
Summary: This study identified six putative terpene biosynthesis gene clusters in the tea plant genome, and cloned three new TPS-b subfamily genes, revealing the synthesis mechanism of volatile compounds in tea plants and their roles in aroma quality formation and pest defense.
PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Camila Davila, Juan E. E. Fiorenza, Jonathan Gershenzon, Michael Reichelt, Jorge A. A. Zavala, Patricia C. C. Fernandez
Summary: The oviposition of willow sawfly on willow trees affects larval growth and pupation, extending the cocoon phase. Oviposition also leads to changes in plant hormones and volatile profiles. This induced response ultimately affects the entire life cycle of the insect.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jianbei Huang, Henrik Hartmann, Roma Ogaya, Ingo Schoning, Michael Reichelt, Jonathan Gershenzon, Josep Penuelas
Summary: Plants have evolved complex mechanisms to produce defense secondary metabolites (SMs) to cope with environmental stress. However, these mechanisms are not well studied in mature trees, limiting our understanding of climate change effects. We investigated SMs and their relations to growth, carbohydrates, and phytohormones in a Mediterranean forest dominated by two tree species. Our results showed seasonality of leaf SMs and reduced SMs and sugars in the drought-resistant species P. latifolia during experimental drought. The drought-susceptible species Q. ilex had lower and constant levels of SMs, regardless of drought. We found differences in phytohormones and growth between the two species. Our study suggests that defense SMs in mature trees are regulated by phytohormones and carbohydrates, and P. latifolia may become more vulnerable to stress in a drying climate due to reduced defense SMs and carbohydrates in stem phloem.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Hui Lyu, Yu Chen, Jonathan Gershenzon, Christian Paetz
Summary: In this study, we discovered that Phenylphenalenones (PPs) are major components of the seed coats of Musella lasiocarpa. We also identified two previously unknown PP dimers (M-4 and M-6) and a group of unreported diarylheptanoid derivatives (musellins A-F), which provide a good system for studying the biosynthesis of PPs.
JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Toni Krause, Piera Wiesinger, Diego Gonzalez-Cabanelas, Nathalie Lackus, Tobias G. Koellner, Thomas Kluepfel, Jonathan Williams, Johann Rohwer, Jonathan Gershenzon, Axel Schmidt
Summary: This study investigated the major HDR isoforms in Norway spruce and gray poplar to determine their regulation of isoprenoid formation. The results showed that Norway spruce has two different HDR isoforms, with one producing more IDP for carotenoid and chlorophyll production, and the other producing more DMADP for specialized metabolites. Gray poplar, on the other hand, has only one dominant isoform that produces more DMADP, potentially explaining its high rate of isoprene emission.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Yuegui Chen, Qin Yan, Yunheng Ji, Xue Bai, Desen Li, Rongfang Mu, Kai Guo, Minjie Yang, Yang Tao, Jonathan Gershenzon, Yan Liu, Shenghong Li
Summary: This study characterized UDP-glycosyltransferases responsible for biosynthesizing the sugar chain of bioactive steroidal saponins from Paris poly-phylla var. yunnanensis. The UDP-glycosyltransferases showed substrate promiscuity and a mutant with increased catalytic efficiency was obtained. The steroidal saponins exhibited strong antifungal activity, particularly with 20-O-rhamnosylation.
ACTA PHARMACEUTICA SINICA B
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Maria K. Paulmann, Linus Wegner, Jonathan Gershenzon, Alexandra C. U. Furch, Grit Kunert
Summary: It has been found that pea aphids can suppress the conformational change of forisomes, which are involved in the defense mechanism of legumes against phloem-feeding insects. This ability may be related to the saliva injected into the plants by aphids.
Article
Ecology
Zijie Gao, Mingxue Xie, Shiyu Gui, Muyang He, Yongyue Lu, Luoluo Wang, Jingyuan Chen, Guy Smagghe, Jonathan Gershenzon, Daifeng Cheng
Summary: Sex pheromones are used by insects to attract and repel mates. This study investigated the differences in male pheromones between closely related species. The results showed that the two species produced the same pheromones, but with different ratios, indicating species-specificity. The study provides new insights into how insects and their symbionts regulate pheromone specificity and its impact on speciation.
Article
Ecology
Ruo Sun, Benke Hong, Michael Reichelt, Katrin Luck, Duc Tam Mai, Xingcong Jiang, Jonathan Gershenzon, Daniel Giddings Vassao
Summary: Beauveria bassiana is a soil fungus that infects crop pests, but it can still parasitize chemically-defended aphids by detoxifying their toxins through the mercapturic acid pathway. This pathway enhances the growth of B. bassiana when isothiocyanates are present, making it an important factor in parasitization.
Article
Plant Sciences
Gazmend Zeneli, Trevor M. Fenning, Jonathan Gershenzon
Summary: Conifer trees increase production of terpene resins in response to herbivores or pathogens, but studying this in the lab is challenging. This study demonstrates that cell cultures of Norway spruce can be a convenient system for studying terpene induction in this species, showing similar but lower levels of monoterpene accumulation compared to intact trees. Treatment with hormones and fungal elicitors increased monoterpene accumulation through increased biosynthesis, suggesting the potential of using cell cultures for studying terpene resin defenses.
Article
Ecology
Stephanie Fiedler, Mathias Langner, Reinhard Oertel, Daniel G. Vassao, Julia Nitschke, Jonathan Gershenzon, Anna K. Hundsdoerfer
Summary: This study found that the insect herbivore, the spurge hawkmoth, and its main larval food plant, the cypress spurge, contain a toxic compound called tigliane ester. The distribution of this compound varies in different parts of the plant, and its concentration increases after larvae feed on the plant's leaves.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Suman Chakraborty, Jonathan Gershenzon, Stefan Schuster
Summary: By studying the dynamics of plant defense and counter-defense, this study theoretically derived the conditions under which preemptive counter-defense reduces exposure to isothiocyanates (ITCs) compared to direct counter-defense. The models explain how herbivory transfers glucosinolates (GLSs) from plants to insect guts and describe the dynamics of ITCs in the gut during feeding with the two types of counter-defenses. The results show that herbivores with preemptive counter-defense are usually less exposed to ITCs.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xing-Rong Peng, Sybille B. Unsicker, Jonathan Gershenzon, Ming-Hua Qiu
Summary: This review discusses the structures and biosynthesis of Ganoderma meroterpenoids (GMs) newly discovered from 2018 to 2022, as well as the chemical synthesis and biological activity of some interesting GMs. A plausible biosynthetic pathway for GMs is proposed for the first time, which will stimulate further research on the biosynthetic pathway in Ganoderma species and the chemical synthesis of GMs as important bioactive compounds for drug development.
NATURAL PRODUCT REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ana L. Medina-Fraga, Lucas A. Chinen, Patricia V. Demkura, Micaela Z. Lichy, Jonathan Gershenzon, Carlos L. Ballare, Carlos D. Crocco
Summary: Light is an important environmental signal for plant defense. In this study, it was found that the transcription factor BBX29 integrates light signaling with defense responses in Arabidopsis. BBX29 promotes the accumulation of flavonoids, sinapate, and glucosinolates in leaves, which are important for plant defense. Genetic evidence indicated that BBX29 up-regulates the expression of key genes involved in flavonoid and glucosinolate biosynthesis. Knockout mutants of bbx29 displayed reduced expression of these genes and increased susceptibility to pathogens and herbivores, while BBX29 overexpression lines showed the opposite. BBX29 also played a role in mediating the effects of UV-B radiation on plant defense.
PHOTOCHEMICAL & PHOTOBIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Stefan Doetterl, Jonathan Gershenzon
Summary: This review summarizes recent advances in floral scent research from chemical, molecular, and ecological perspectives. It focuses on the major chemical classes of floral volatiles, new structures, and recent discoveries regarding biosynthesis and regulation of volatile emission. The review also highlights the various functions of floral volatiles, their impact of abiotic stressors and organisms, and identifies research gaps in the field.
NATURAL PRODUCT REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Zobaida Lahari, Sarah van Boerdonk, Olumide Owolabi Omoboye, Michael Reichelt, Monica Hofte, Jonathan Gershenzon, Godelieve Gheysen, Chhana Ullah
Summary: This study reveals the negative role of strigolactones (SLs) in rice defense against the blast fungus Pyricularia oryzae. SL deficiency in rice leads to higher accumulation of jasmonates, sugars, and flavonoid phytoalexins, which reduces susceptibility to P. oryzae. There is a reciprocal positive interaction between jasmonates and sugars. Functional jasmonate signaling is necessary for SL deficiency to induce rice defense against P. oryzae.