Positive Selection of Squalene Synthase in Cucurbitaceae Plants.

Triterpenoid saponins are secondary metabolites synthesized through isoprenoid pathways in plants. Cucurbitaceae represent an important plant family in which many species contain cucurbitacins as secondary metabolites synthesized through isoprenoid and triterpenoid pathways. Squalene synthase () is required for the biosynthesis of isoprenoids, but the forces driving the evolution of remain undetermined.

Positive selection and functional divergence of farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase genes in plants.

Background: Farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase (FPS) belongs to the short-chain prenyltransferase family, and it performs a conserved and essential role in the terpenoid biosynthesis pathway. However, its classification, evolutionary history, and the forces driving the evolution of FPS genes in plants remain poorly understood.

Results: Phylogeny and positive selection analysis was used to identify the evolutionary forces that led to the functional divergence of FPS in plants, and recombinant detection was undertaken using the Genetic Algorithm for Recombination Detection (GARD) method.

Transcriptome Sequencing of to Identify Genes and Enzymes Involved in Triterpenoid Biosynthesis.

(), a creeping herbaceous perennial with many important medicinal properties, is widely distributed in Asia. Gypenosides (triterpenoid saponins), the main effective components of , are well studied. FPS (farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase), SS (squalene synthase), and SE (squalene epoxidase) are the main enzymes involved in the synthesis of triterpenoid saponins.