Subfunctionalization of Paralog Transcription Factors Contributes to Regulation of Alkaloid Pathway Branch Choice in Catharanthus roseus

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2021

Authors

Colinas, M (Author) Other; Pollier, J (Author) Other; Vaneechoutte, D (Author) Other; Malat, DG (Author) Other; Schweizer, F (Author) Other; De Milde, L (Author) Other; De Clercq, R (Author) Other; Guedes, JG (Author) Other; Martinez Cortes, T (Author) Other; Molina Hidalgo, FJ (Author) Other; Mariana Sottomayor (Author) FCUP; Vandepoele, K (Author) Other; Goossens, A (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Frontiers in Plant Science

Vol. 12

ISSN: 1664-462X

Publisher: Frontiers Media

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 7 Citations

Scopus - 8 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00V-1GK

DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.687406

Abstract (EN): Catharanthus roseus produces a diverse range of specialized metabolites of the monoterpenoid indole alkaloid (MIA) class in a heavily branched pathway. Recent great progress in identification of MIA biosynthesis genes revealed that the different pathway branch genes are expressed in a highly cell type- and organ-specific and stress-dependent manner. This implies a complex control by specific transcription factors (TFs), only partly revealed today. We generated and mined a comprehensive compendium of publicly available C. roseus transcriptome data for MIA pathway branch-specific TFs. Functional analysis was performed through extensive comparative gene expression analysis and profiling of over 40 MIA metabolites in the C. roseus flower petal expression system. We identified additional members of the known BIS and ORCA regulators. Further detailed study of the ORCA TFs suggests subfunctionalization of ORCA paralogs in terms of target gene-specific regulation and synergistic activity with the central jasmonate response regulator MYC2. Moreover, we identified specific amino acid residues within the ORCA DNA-binding domains that contribute to the differential regulation of some MIA pathway branches. Our results advance our understanding of TF paralog specificity for which, despite the common occurrence of closely related paralogs in many species, comparative studies are scarce.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 20