Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 14, 2026
07:59
A Customizable Approach for the Enzymatic Production and Purification of Diterpenoid Natural Products
Published on: October 4, 2019
10.3K
Atomic basis for functional evolution of plant lanosterol synthase
Aimin Ma1, Hongjuan Diao2,3, Tong Xia1,4
1State Key Laboratory of Forage Breeding-by-Design and Utilization, Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China.
The New Phytologist
|October 21, 2025
Summary
Plant lanosterol synthases (LAS) evolved from cycloartenol synthases (CAS) and show distinct catalytic mechanisms. This convergent evolution in sterol biosynthesis offers targets for developing stress-resilient crops.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Evolutionary Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Lanosterol synthase (LAS) and cycloartenol synthase (CAS) are key enzymes in sterol biosynthesis, producing lanosterol in animals/fungi and cycloartenol in plants.
- The evolutionary origin and catalytic mechanisms of plant LASs, distinct from animal/fungal counterparts, remain largely unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the atomic-level catalytic mechanisms of LASs across plants, animals, and fungi.
- To investigate the evolutionary trajectory of plant LASs and their relationship with CAS.
- To define the functional role of plant LAS in plant development.
Main Methods:
- Quantum Mechanics/Molecular Mechanics (QM/MM) Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations were employed to analyze catalytic mechanisms.
- Phylogenetic and microcollinearity analyses were conducted to trace evolutionary origins.
Main Results:
- Plant LASs exhibit a distinct dominant reaction pathway from a C8 cation intermediate to lanosterol compared to animal/fungal LASs.
- Phylogenetic analyses revealed that plant LASs evolved from an ancestral plant CAS and are primarily found in eudicots.
- Plant LASs were found to play a role in root development, indicating convergent evolution with animal/fungal LASs.
Conclusions:
- The lanosterol biosynthesis pathway represents a significant example of convergent evolution across eukaryotes, with independent origins in plants, animals, and fungi.
- Plant LASs have convergently evolved to support root development, providing potential molecular targets for enhancing crop resilience to environmental stresses.
Related Concept Videos
00:49Ligand Binding and Linkage
5.5K
Allosteric proteins have more than one ligand binding site; the binding of a ligand to any of these sites influences the binding of ligands to the other sites. When a protein is allosteric, its binding sites are called coupled or linked. In the case of enzymes, the site that binds to the substrate is known as the active site and the other site is known as the regulatory site. When a ligand binds to the regulatory site, this leads to conformational changes in the protein that can influence...
5.5K
01:29Biosynthesis of Lipids
523
Microbial membranes exhibit remarkable diversity in lipid composition, reflecting evolutionary adaptations to various environmental conditions. The three domains of life—Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya—synthesize membrane lipids through distinct biosynthetic pathways, leading to fundamental structural differences that impact membrane stability, function, and adaptability.Fatty Acid-Based Lipids in Bacteria and EukaryaBacteria and eukaryotes share a common fatty acid biosynthesis...
523
01:25Cell Signaling in Plants
6.1K
Plant cells communicate to coordinate their cycle of growth, flowering and fruiting, and activities in roots, shoots, and leaves in response to the changing environmental conditions. Plant signaling is distinct from animal signaling. Plants primarily utilize enzyme-linked receptors, whereas the largest class of cell-surface receptors in animals are G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). Unlike animals, receptor tyrosine kinases are rare in plants. Instead, plants have a diverse class of...
6.1K
01:29Amino Acid Biosynthetic Pathways
1.1K
Amino acid biosynthesis is essential for cell growth, protein synthesis, and metabolic regulation. Cells generate essential and non-essential amino acids from metabolic intermediates to sustain vital biological functions. These intermediates originate from key metabolic pathways: glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and the pentose phosphate pathway. Important precursors include α-ketoglutarate, pyruvate, oxaloacetate, phosphoenolpyruvate, and erythrose-4-phosphate, which...
1.1K
01:49Conserved Binding Sites
5.0K
Many proteins’ biological role depends on their interactions with their ligands, small molecules that bind to specific locations on the protein known as ligand-binding sites. Ligand-binding sites are often conserved among homologous proteins as these sites are critical for protein function.
Binding sites are often located in large pockets, and if their location on a protein’s surface is unknown, it can be predicted using various approaches. The energetic method computationally...
Binding sites are often located in large pockets, and if their location on a protein’s surface is unknown, it can be predicted using various approaches. The energetic method computationally...
5.0K
01:24Biosynthesis in Bacteria
558
Biosynthesis in bacteria is a fundamental anabolic process that generates essential macromolecules, including proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and polysaccharides. These macromolecules are critical for cellular growth, replication, and function. The process is tightly regulated and energetically linked to catabolic pathways to ensure optimal resource utilization.Biosynthetic pathways begin with precursor metabolites such as pyruvate, acetyl-CoA, and glucose-6-phosphate derived from glycolysis,...
558