Polyploidy underlies co-option and diversification of biosynthetic triterpene pathways in the apple tribe

Su, Wenbing; Jing, Yi; Lin, Shoukai; Yue, Zhen; Yang, Xianghui; Xu, Jiabao; Wu, Jincheng; Zhang, Zhike; Xia, Rui; Zhu, Jiaojiao; An, Ning; Chen, Haixin; Hong, Yanping; Yuan, Yuan; Long, Ting; Zhang, Ling; Jiang, Yuanyuan; Liu, Zongli; Zhang, Hailan; Gao, Yongshun; Liu, Yuexue; Lin, Hailan; Wang, Huicong; Yant, Levi; Lin, Shunquan; Liu, Zhenhua

Abstract

Whole-genome duplication (WGD) plays important roles in plant evolution and function, yet little is known about how WGD underlies metabolic diversification of natural products that bear significant medicinal properties, especially in nonmodel trees. Here, we reveal how WGD laid the foundation for co-option and differentiation of medicinally important ursane triterpene pathway duplicates, generating distinct chemotypes between species and between developmental stages in the apple tribe. After generating chromosome-level assemblies of a widely cultivated loquat variety and Gillenia trifoliata, we define differentially evolved, duplicated gene pathways and date the WGD in the apple tribe at 13.5 to 27.1 Mya, much more recent than previously thought. We then functionally characterize contrasting metabolic pathways responsible for major triterpene biosynthesis in G. trifoliata and loquat, which pre- and postdate the Maleae WGD, respectively. Our work mechanistically details the metabolic diversity that arose post-WGD and provides insights into the genomic basis of medicinal properties of loquat, which has been used in both traditional and modern medicines.

Citation

Su, W., Jing, Y., Lin, S., Yue, Z., Yang, X., Xu, J., Wu, J., Zhang, Z., Xia, R., Zhu, J., An, N., Chen, H., Hong, Y., Yuan, Y., Long, T., Zhang, L., Jiang, Y., Liu, Z., Zhang, H., Gao, Y., …Liu, Z. (2021). Polyploidy underlies co-option and diversification of biosynthetic triterpene pathways in the apple tribe. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118(20), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2101767118

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 5, 2021
• Online Publication Date: May 13, 2021
• Publication Date: May 18, 2021
• Deposit Date: Sep 24, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 30, 2021
• Print ISSN: 0027-8424
• Electronic ISSN: 1091-6490
• Publisher: National Academy of Sciences
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 118
• Issue: 20
• Article Number: e2101767118
• Pages: 1-11
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2101767118
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/5633110
• Publisher URL: https://www.pnas.org/content/118/20/e2101767118