MTPSLs: New Terpene Synthases in Nonseed Plants

Area of Science:

• Plant biochemistry
• Molecular evolution
• Genomics

Background:

• Terpenes are crucial plant secondary metabolites with diverse biological roles.
• Traditionally, plant terpene biosynthesis was attributed solely to plant terpene synthases.
• Recent discoveries challenge this view, revealing novel gene families.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of microbial terpene synthase-like genes (MTPSLs) in terpene biosynthesis.
• To understand the evolutionary origin and distribution of MTPSLs in land plants.
• To elucidate the contribution of MTPSLs to terpene diversity in nonseed plants.

Main Methods:

• Phylogenetic analysis of terpene synthase gene families.
• Comparative genomics across plant lineages (nonseed plants, seed plants, green algae).
• Structural comparison of MTPSLs with known terpene synthases from plants, bacteria, and fungi.

Main Results:

• MTPSLs represent a distinct group of terpene synthase genes, more related to bacterial and fungal counterparts than to plant terpene synthases.
• MTPSLs are prevalent in nonseed plants but absent in seed plants and green algae.
• Phylogenetic analyses indicate that MTPSLs were acquired by early land plants from bacteria and fungi through horizontal gene transfer.

Conclusions:

• MTPSLs are a significant determinant of terpene diversity in nonseed plants.
• The evolutionary history of MTPSLs involves horizontal gene transfer, highlighting microbial contributions to plant metabolism.
• Understanding MTPSLs provides new insights into plant secondary metabolism and evolution.