In the heart of Shanghai, a team of researchers led by Changheng Shan from the Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center of Agri-Seeds at Shanghai Jiao Tong University has unlocked a new chapter in the story of plant evolution and biosynthesis. Their work, published in Nature Communications (translated as “Natural Communication”), sheds light on the genetic mechanisms behind the production of benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs), a group of over 2,500 compounds with significant pharmacological applications.
BIAs are not just any plant compounds; they are the basis for many medicines, from the pain-relieving properties of opium to the cancer-fighting agents in bloodroot. Until now, these compounds have been well-studied in the Ranunculales order of plants, but their biosynthesis in Magnoliids, an early-diverging group of angiosperms, has remained a mystery. Shan and his team have changed that, focusing their lens on Houttuynia cordata, a plant known for its medicinal properties.
The researchers identified key enzymes in H. cordata that form the backbone of BIAs, including 6-OMT, NMT, CYP80B, and 4’OMT. But their discoveries didn’t stop there. They uncovered a novel phenol coupling reaction mediated by the enzyme CYP80G, which plays a crucial role in the biosynthesis of isoboldine, a unique BIA found in H. cordata.
“What we found is that the genes responsible for BIA backbone formation are conserved between Magnoliids and Ranunculales,” Shan explained. “But in H. cordata, we see evidence of gene duplication and neofunctionalization, where new functions evolve from duplicated genes.” This finding suggests that the plant has evolved unique strategies to produce its distinctive BIAs.
The team’s genome-wide analysis revealed another intriguing insight: the dynamic clustering of CYP80B with 4’OMT and 6-OMT genes across angiosperms. This clustering reflects the interlinked biochemical roles of these genes in BIA biosynthesis. Shan and his colleagues propose that such gene clustering may have evolved through biochemical coordination, offering a new perspective on the evolutionary mechanisms behind plant gene cluster formation.
So, what does this mean for the future? Understanding the genetic basis of BIA biosynthesis could pave the way for synthetic biology strategies to produce high-value BIAs. This could revolutionize the pharmaceutical industry, making it possible to produce these valuable compounds on a larger scale and at a lower cost.
Moreover, this research provides a foundation for understanding BIA biosynthesis across flowering plants. As Shan put it, “Our findings offer a glimpse into the evolutionary history of these important compounds and the plants that produce them.”
In the broader context, this work highlights the potential of agritech and synthetic biology to drive innovation in the energy sector. By harnessing the power of plant genetics, we can develop new, sustainable sources of energy and high-value compounds. The future of agritech is bright, and this research is a significant step forward in that journey.