Plant biochemistry and biosynthesis

A cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase-like scaffold organizes monoterpenoid indole alkaloid biosynthesis

The paper identifies VinBLAST, a scaffold protein that facilitates the biosynthesis of monoterpenoid indole alkaloids by enhancing the interaction and activity of key enzymes.

First O-demethylation activity in Arabidopsis specialized metabolism resolves the missing step in esculetin biosynthesis

The paper identifies the first O-demethylation reaction in Arabidopsis specialized metabolism, resolving the missing step in esculetin biosynthesis and showing its role in iron acquisition.

Pioneering the Formation of 2-Carboxylic Anthraquinone: CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Functional Validation of Octaketide Synthase and Polyketide Reductase Genes in Aloe vera

This study identifies and validates the role of polyketide reductase in anthraquinone biosynthesis in Aloe vera using CRISPR/Cas9 and biochemical analysis.

Lineage-Specific Neofunctionalization of Polyacetylene-Directing UGT76 Glycosyltransferases in Campanulaceae

The paper identifies and characterizes UGT76 glycosyltransferases in Codonopsis pilosula that catalyze the biosynthesis of polyacetylene glycosides, revealing a novel tunnel-based substrate recognition mechanism.

Evolutionary conserved cis-trans regulation machinery for diterpenoid phytoalexin production in Poaceae

The paper investigates the regulatory mechanisms of diterpenoid phytoalexin production in wild rice, identifying DPF and N-boxes as key cis-trans regulators conserved across species.

Ancient origins of alkaloid biosynthesis in medicinal clubmosses

This study identifies scaffold-forming enzymes and a transporter involved in huperzine A biosynthesis in clubmosses using metabolic conservation.

A Diploid Panax Genome Reveals Ginsenoside Diversity Driven by UGT Diversification and Network Rewiring, Rather Than Gene Family Expansion

This paper presents a diploid Panax genome and shows ginsenoside diversity arises from UGT diversification and rewired networks, not gene family expansion.

AUREOCHROME 1b is a transcriptional regulator of pigment biosynthesis in Phaeodactylum tricornutum

The paper identifies AUREOCHROME 1b as a transcriptional regulator of pigment biosynthesis in Phaeodactylum tricornutum through transcriptomic analysis and overexpression studies.

Modeling of Glucosinolate Biosynthesis During Biotic Stress as a Function of mRNA

The paper models glucosinolate biosynthesis dynamics in Arabidopsis under biotic stress using a mechanistic ODE model constrained by gene expression and metabolite data.

Old Yellow Enzyme from Brevibacillus nitrificans functions as 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid reductase in planta

The paper identifies BnOPR from Brevibacillus nitrificans as a functional OPDA reductase that rescues the male infertile phenotype in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Molecular evolution of terpene synthase underlying the diversification of isoprene emission in Fagaceae

The paper investigates the molecular evolution of terpene synthase genes in Fagaceae, revealing convergent evolution of isoprene synthase activity in two lineages within subgenus Quercus.

Systematic prediction and functional analysis of amino acid residues determining product specificity in the plant oxidosqualene cyclase superfamily

The paper predicts and validates amino acid residues determining product specificity in plant oxidosqualene cyclases using structural and computational methods.

Biosynthesis of bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids

This study identifies the enzymatic pathway for bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid biosynthesis and reveals a non-canonical redox-mediated mechanism for stereochemical control.

ABCG transporters are involved in the accumulation of specialized metabolites in the oil bodies of Marchantia polymorpha

This study identifies MpABCG1 and MpABCG36 as key proteins involved in the accumulation of specialized metabolites in oil bodies of Marchantia polymorpha.

Genome-Wide Discovery and Characterization of Terpene Synthases Contributing to Strawberry Aroma Metabolism

The paper identifies and characterizes terpene synthase genes in strawberry, revealing their role in terpene aroma diversity and providing resources for aroma trait improvement.

Nicotine biosynthesis completed by cryptic activating glucosylation

This paper reconstructs the complete nicotine biosynthesis pathway in vitro and in planta, identifying key enzymes and providing structural insights.

Enzymatic and Biophysical Analysis of two Highly Related Cytochrome P450 Reductases from Artemisia annua Reveals Differences in Their Ligand Interactions and Domain Motions

This study compares two closely related Cytochrome P450 reductases from Artemisia annua, revealing differences in their catalytic efficiency, thermal stability, and domain motions that may influence their roles in artemisinin biosynthesis.

Diverse Diterpenoid Phytoalexins Shape Wheat Chemical Defenses

This study identifies two pathogen-induced diterpenoid pathways in wheat that produce antimicrobial compounds, revealing organizational separation of diterpenoid-based chemical defenses.

Identification of Reductases Catalyzing Benzyl Alcohol Formation during Salicylic Acid Biosynthesis in Plants

This study identifies the enzymatic steps for benzyl alcohol production in the salicylic acid biosynthesis pathway in plants, revealing key reductases and their functional differences across species.

Chloroplast genome engineering of potato enables diterpene production without agronomic penalty

This study engineering potato chloroplast genomes to produce diterpenes without agronomic penalties by optimizing gene insertion and precursor supply.

Engineering carotenoid and steroidal glycoalkaloid depleted tomato fruit for heterologous production of high value terpenes

This study engineers tomato fruit to produce high-value terpenes by modifying genes involved in specialized metabolism.

An aromatic substrate prenyltransferase involved in the chemical diversification of flavonoids in Glycyrrhiza glabra

The paper identifies a new prenyltransferase in Glycyrrhiza glabra that catalyzes diverse flavonoid prenylations, expanding known enzymatic pathways for isoflavonoid biosynthesis.

Integrated RNA-seq analysis identifies ABC transporters mediating taxane export in Taxus species

The paper evaluates RNA-seq preprocessing pipelines to identify ABC transporters involved in taxane export in Taxus species, showing the importance of batch correction for accurate gene discovery.

Chorismate and isochorismate turnover reveal hidden dynamics of aromatic metabolism in Arabidopsis

The paper uses isotopologue MS/MS to measure carbon flux in Arabidopsis leaves, revealing dynamics between chorismate and isochorismate pools and their compartmentalization.

Repurposing the diatom periplastidial compartment for heterologous terpenoid production

The paper profiles terpenoid biosynthetic capacity in diatoms by targeting synthases to different compartments, revealing precursor availability and efficiency across compartments.

Interactomics-driven discovery of alkaloid biosynthetic pathways in kratom

The paper identifies novel alkaloid biosynthetic pathways in kratom by analyzing protein-protein interactions of a key enzyme and characterizing the enzymatic activities of its interaction partners.

Geissoschizine scaffolding enzymes shape monoterpene indole alkaloid biosynthesis

The paper identifies MDR proteins as regulators of geissoschizine biosynthesis, enhancing activity and diversifying stereochemical outputs through ternary complex formation with GS and SGD.

Whole-Genome sequencing of Indigenous Withania somnifera accession and comparative cytochrome P450 phylogenomics

The paper presents the first high-quality genome assembly of Withania somnifera and identifies CYP450 gene families involved in triterpenoid biosynthesis, revealing lineage-specific innovations and conserved subfamilies.

Enhanced GPP synthesis by Erg20p-peptide fusions and biomolecular condensates boosts monoterpene production in yeast

The paper enhances monoterpene production in yeast by using Erg20p-peptide fusions and biomolecular condensates to increase GPP synthesis over FPP synthesis.

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.