Four billion years of microbial terpenome evolution

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Evolutionary Biology
• Microbiology

Background:

• Terpenoids (isoprenoids) are a vast, diverse class of natural products crucial for cellular functions like membrane organization and signaling.
• Archaea and Bacteria possess distinct terpenoid pathways and utilize them differently, notably in membrane phospholipid composition.
• The origin and early diversification of terpenoids, particularly concerning ancestral membrane structures, remain poorly understood.

Approach:

• Phylogenomic analysis of extant terpenoid biosynthesis enzymes in Bacteria and Archaea.
• Reconstruction of ancestral terpenoid biosynthesis machinery.
• Investigation of evolutionary trajectories of terpenoid pathways.

Key Points:

• Terpenoids are ancient compounds, predating the Last Universal Common Ancestor.
• Significant differences exist in terpenoid repertoires and functions between Bacteria and Archaea.
• Archaea uniquely use terpenoid-based phospholipids for their cellular membranes.

Conclusions:

• Phylogenomic analysis provides insights into the basal components of early terpenoid biosynthesis.
• Understanding terpenoid evolution sheds light on the origins of cellular life and membrane diversity.
• This review highlights the deep evolutionary connection between terpenoid biochemistry and early life.