Genomic evidence for convergent evolution of gene clusters for momilactone biosynthesis in land plants.

Momilactones are bioactive diterpenoids that contribute to plant defense against pathogens and allelopathic interactions between plants. Both cultivated and wild grass species of and (barnyard grass) produce momilactones using a biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC) in their genomes. The bryophyte (formerly ) also produces momilactones, and the bifunctional diterpene cyclase gene which is responsible for the production of the diterpene framework, has been characterized.

HpDTC1, a Stress-Inducible Bifunctional Diterpene Cyclase Involved in Momilactone Biosynthesis, Functions in Chemical Defence in the Moss Hypnum plumaeforme.

Momilactones, which are diterpenoid phytoalexins with antimicrobial and allelopathic functions, have been found only in rice and the moss Hypnum plumaeforme. Although these two evolutionarily distinct plant species are thought to produce momilactones as a chemical defence, the momilactone biosynthetic pathway in H. plumaeforme has been unclear.

Analysis of -kaurenoic acid by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

-Kaurenoic acid (KA) is a key intermediate connected to a phytohormone gibberellin. To date, the general procedure for quantifying KA is by using traditional gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In contrast, gibberellins, which are more hydrophilic than KA, can be easily quantified by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).