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Published on: August 16, 2018
A trichome-specific linoleate lipoxygenase expressed during pyrethrin biosynthesis in pyrethrum
Aldana M Ramirez1, Ting Yang, Harro J Bouwmeester
1Plant Research International, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Lipids
|July 30, 2013
Summary
Pyrethrin biosynthesis involves lipoxygenase enzymes. Researchers identified TcLOX1, a key lipoxygenase exclusively in pyrethrum trichomes, crucial for early pyrethrin production.
Area of Science:
- Plant biochemistry
- Metabolic pathways
- Insecticide biosynthesis
Background:
- Pyrethrins, natural insecticides, share biochemical pathways with jasmonic acid.
- Lipoxygenase enzymes are hypothesized to initiate pyrethrin biosynthesis via linolenic acid hydroperoxidation.
- Chrysanthemyl diphosphate synthase (TcCDS) is known to be trichome-specific in pyrethrin biosynthesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the expression of lipoxygenase genes in pyrethrum.
- To identify and clone lipoxygenases involved in pyrethrin biosynthesis.
- To determine the specific role of identified lipoxygenases in the pathway.
Main Methods:
- Expression pattern analysis of 25 lipoxygenase EST contigs.
- Molecular cloning of two pyrethrum lipoxygenase genes, TcLOX1 and TcLOX2.
- Recombinant enzyme activity assays and phylogenetic analysis.
Main Results:
- TcLOX1 and TcLOX2 exhibited expression patterns similar to TcCDS, suggesting involvement in pyrethrin biosynthesis.
- Only recombinant TcLOX1 demonstrated lipoxygenase activity, catalyzing linolenic acid peroxidation.
- TcLOX1, like TcCDS, is exclusively expressed in pyrethrum trichomes.
Conclusions:
- TcLOX1 is identified as a key enzyme in the early stages of pyrethrin biosynthesis.
- The enzyme's trichome-specific expression highlights the specialized metabolic machinery in these structures.
- Phylogenetic analysis places TcLOX1 among chloroplast-localized 13-type lipoxygenases, similar to those in jasmonate metabolism.
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