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The Madagascar palm genome provides new insights on the evolution of Apocynaceae specialized metabolism

Authors :
Clément Cuello
Hans J. Jansen
Cécile Abdallah
Duchesse-Lacours Zamar Mbadinga
Caroline Birer Williams
Mickael Durand
Audrey Oudin
Nicolas Papon
Nathalie Giglioli-Guivarc'h
Ron P. Dirks
Michael Krogh Jensen
Sarah Ellen O'Connor
Sébastien Besseau
Vincent Courdavault
Source :
Heliyon, Vol 10, Iss 6, Pp e28078- (2024)
Publication Year :
2024
Publisher :
Elsevier, 2024.

Abstract

Specialized metabolites possess diverse interesting biological activities and some cardenolides- and monoterpene indole alkaloids- (MIAs) derived pharmaceuticals are currently used to treat human diseases such as cancers or hypertension. While these two families of biocompounds are produced by specific subfamilies of Apocynaceae, one member of this medicinal plant family, the succulent tree Pachypodium lamerei Drake (also known as Madagascar palm), does not produce such specialized metabolites. To explore the evolutionary paths that have led to the emergence and loss of cardenolide and MIA biosynthesis in Apocynaceae, we sequenced and assembled the P. lamerei genome by combining Oxford Nanopore Technologies long-reads and Illumina short-reads. Phylogenomics revealed that, among the Apocynaceae whose genomes have been sequenced, the Madagascar palm is so far the species closest to the common ancestor between MIA producers/non-MIA producers. Transposable elements, constituting 72.48% of the genome, emerge as potential key players in shaping genomic architecture and influencing specialized metabolic pathways. The absence of crucial MIA biosynthetic genes such as strictosidine synthase in P. lamerei and non-Rauvolfioideae species hints at a transposon-mediated mechanism behind gene loss. Phylogenetic analysis not only showcases the evolutionary divergence of specialized metabolite biosynthesis within Apocynaceae but also underscores the role of transposable elements in this intricate process. Moreover, we shed light on the low conservation of enzymes involved in the final stages of MIA biosynthesis in the distinct MIA-producing plant families, inferring independent gains of these specialized enzymes along the evolution of these medicinal plant clades. Overall, this study marks a leap forward in understanding the genomic dynamics underpinning the evolution of specialized metabolites biosynthesis in the Apocynaceae family, with transposons emerging as potential architects of genomics restructuring and gene loss.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
24058440
Volume :
10
Issue :
6
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Heliyon
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.b0e185b2a97246ebb25926b38501d95a
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e28078