Veit Grabe

An auxiliary protein tunes reductase activity in alkaloid biosynthesis

The paper identifies an auxiliary protein, FoGS, that enhances the activity of geissoschizine synthase in producing alkaloid intermediates and controls product stereochemistry.

The spruce bark beetle Ips typographus transmits mutualistic fungi in mandibular mycetangia

This study identifies a mandibular mycetangium in the spruce bark beetle Ips typographus that facilitates the transmission of mutualistic fungi.

Conserved early steps of stemmadenine biosynthesis

The paper identifies and characterizes stemmadenine acetate pathway genes from Tabernanthe iboga, reconstitutes the biosynthesis in Nicotiana benthamiana, and identifies shunt products affecting pathway flux.

Ecological context determines whether inherited stress responses of hosts benefit or harm herbivores

The paper shows inherited stress responses in plants can benefit or harm aphids depending on metabolite type and ecological context.

Highjacked by a pseudoenzyme: How eudicot plants make indole

The paper reveals an alternative pathway in eudicot plants for indole synthesis, where a non-catalytic TSB-like paralogue hijacks TSA to produce indole for defense.

Independent evolution of ipecac alkaloid biosynthesis

This study shows that ipecac alkaloid biosynthesis evolved independently in two plant species using different monoterpene precursors and non-enzymatic reactions.

Quantitative single cell mass spectrometry reveals the dynamics of plant natural product biosynthesis

The paper develops a method for single cell mass spectrometry to quantify natural products in plant cells, revealing biosynthetic dynamics not captured by scRNA-seq.

Experience-dependent plasticity of a highly specific olfactory circuit in Drosophila melanogaster

The paper shows that a specific olfactory circuit in Drosophila melanogaster undergoes structural changes after exposure to geosmin, leading to behavioral adaptation.

An ammonium transporter is a non-canonical olfactory receptor for ammonia

The paper identifies an ammonium transporter, Amt, as a non-canonical olfactory receptor for ammonia in insects, showing it mediates neuronal and behavioral responses.

Mate discrimination among subspecies through a conserved olfactory pathway

The paper identifies two male-specific pheromones in Drosophila mojavensis subspecies and shows how they contribute to sexual isolation through conserved sensory pathways and differential interpretation.

Silencing cuticular pigmentation genes enables RNA FISH in intact chemosensory appendages

This paper develops an RNA interference method to clear cuticular pigmentation in insects, enabling RNA FISH imaging in intact chemosensory appendages.