AI Article Synopsis
- Many plant metabolites serve important ecological roles, but many biosynthetic genes in plant genomes remain uncharacterized, indicating undiscovered molecules.
- Researchers identified and reconstructed three distinct pathways for synthesizing root triterpenes in the small mustard plant, involving varying numbers of steps.
- Mutant plants with disrupted biosynthesis showed changes in their root microbiota, and bioassays demonstrated that specific metabolites influence the growth of certain bacteria, highlighting the network's role in establishing a specific root microbial community.
Article Abstract
Plant specialized metabolites have ecological functions, yet the presence of numerous uncharacterized biosynthetic genes in plant genomes suggests that many molecules remain unknown. We discovered a triterpene biosynthetic network in the roots of the small mustard plant Collectively, we have elucidated and reconstituted three divergent pathways for the biosynthesis of root triterpenes, namely thalianin (seven steps), thalianyl medium-chain fatty acid esters (three steps), and arabidin (five steps). mutants disrupted in the biosynthesis of these compounds have altered root microbiota. In vitro bioassays with purified compounds reveal selective growth modulation activities of pathway metabolites toward root microbiota members and their biochemical transformation and utilization by bacteria, supporting a role for this biosynthetic network in shaping an specific root microbial community.
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| http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.aau6389 | DOI Listing |
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