The Rauvolfia tetraphylla genome suggests multiple distinct biosynthetic routes for yohimbane monoterpene indole alkaloids.

Monoterpene indole alkaloids (MIAs) are a structurally diverse family of specialized metabolites mainly produced in Gentianales to cope with environmental challenges. Due to their pharmacological properties, the biosynthetic modalities of several MIA types have been elucidated but not that of the yohimbanes. Here, we combine metabolomics, proteomics, transcriptomics and genome sequencing of Rauvolfia tetraphylla with machine learning to discover the unexpected multiple actors of this natural product synthesis.

The Arabidopsis DUF239 gene family encodes Neprosin-like proteins that are widely expressed in seed endosperm.

Domain of unknown function 239 (DUF239) is a conserved sequence found in the catalytic site of Neprosins which are specific secreted prolyl endopeptidases found in the Nepenthes genus. Neprosins participate in the nitrogen cycle by digesting preys trapped in the pitcher of these carnivorous plants. Apart from that, DUF239s have been poorly documented in plants.

The Vinca minor genome highlights conserved evolutionary traits in monoterpene indole alkaloid synthesis.

Vinca minor, also known as the lesser periwinkle, is a well-known species from the Apocynaceae, native to central and southern Europe. This plant synthesizes monoterpene indole alkaloids, which are a class of specialized metabolites displaying a wide range of bioactive- and pharmacologically important properties. Within the almost 50 monoterpene indole alkaloids it produces, V.

Protein Farnesylation Takes Part in Arabidopsis Seed Development.

Protein farnesylation is a post-translational modification regulated by the (Enhanced Response to ABA 1) gene encoding the β-subunit of the protein farnesyltransferase in Arabidopsis. The mutants have been described for over two decades and exhibit severe pleiotropic phenotypes, affecting vegetative and flower development. We further investigated the development and quality of seeds.

Improved gene co-expression network quality through expression dataset down-sampling and network aggregation.

Large-scale gene co-expression networks are an effective methodology to analyze sets of co-expressed genes and discover new gene functions or associations. Distances between genes are estimated according to their expression profiles and are visualized in networks that may be further partitioned to reveal communities of co-expressed genes. Creating expression profiles is now eased by the large amounts of publicly available expression data (microarrays and RNA-seq).

Remarkable Evolutionary Conservation of Antiobesity ADIPOSE/WDTC1 Homologs in Animals and Plants.

ASG2 (Altered Seed Germination 2) is a prenylated protein in that participates to abscisic acid signaling and is proposed to act as a substrate adaptor for the DDB1 (DNA damage-binding protein 1)-CUL4 (Cullin 4) E3 ubiquitin ligase complex. ASG2 harbors WD40 and TetratricoPeptide Repeat (TPR) domains, and resembles the well-conserved animal gene called (antiobesity factor ) in fly and (WD40 and TPR 1) in humans. Loss of function of results in an increase in adipocytes, fat accumulation, and obesity.