Evolution of folate biosynthesis and metabolism across algae and land plant lineages

Tetrahydrofolate and its derivatives, commonly known as folates, are essential for almost all living organisms. Besides acting as one-carbon donors and acceptors in reactions producing various important biomolecules such as nucleic and amino acids, as well as pantothenate, they also supply one-carbon units for methylation reactions. Plants along with bacteria, yeast and fungi synthesize folates de novo and therefore constitute a very important dietary source of folates for animals. All the major steps of folate biosynthesis and metabolism have been identified but only few have been genetically characterized in a handful of model plant species. The possible differences in the folate pathway between various plant and algal species have never been explored. In this study we present a comprehensive comparative study of folate biosynthesis and metabolism of all major land plant lineages as well as green and red algae. The study identifies new features of plant folate metabolism that might open new directions to folate research in plants.