The centromere paradox, in which functionally conserved centromeres exhibit rapid evolution, has long intrigued geneticists and evolutionary biologists. Despite its importance, the centromeric landscape remains poorly understood due to the lack of complete assemblies. Here we dissect the dynamic evolution of Brassica centromeres by generating telomere-to-telomere genome assemblies from seven morphotypes of B. rapa (AA) and the two tetraploids B. juncea (AABB) and B. napus (AACC). Pan-centromere analysis reveals that Brassica centromeres are extensively invaded by retrotransposons and show remarkable diversity in size and structure. While A- and C-genome centromeres feature distinct patterns of satellites, B-genome centromeres are devoid of satellites. The centromeric satellite expansion in the C-genome is reminiscent of the layered expansions observed in human centromeres. Accordingly, we propose a working model of centromere evolution reconstructing the key evolutionary events leading to current Brassica centromere structures. These insights will illuminate plant centromere evolution and guide the design of crop synthetic chromosomes. This study characterizes the pan-centromere landscape and evolutionary dynamics in Brassica, generating and comparing telomere-to-telomere genome assemblies of multiple morphotypes and shedding light on centromere evolution during domestication.
{"title":"Pan-centromere landscape and dynamic evolution in Brassica plants","authors":"Weikai Chen, Jingxuan Wang, Shaoying Chen, Dian Meng, Yu Mu, Hui Feng, Lugang Zhang, Li Guo","doi":"10.1038/s41477-025-02131-5","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41477-025-02131-5","url":null,"abstract":"The centromere paradox, in which functionally conserved centromeres exhibit rapid evolution, has long intrigued geneticists and evolutionary biologists. Despite its importance, the centromeric landscape remains poorly understood due to the lack of complete assemblies. Here we dissect the dynamic evolution of Brassica centromeres by generating telomere-to-telomere genome assemblies from seven morphotypes of B. rapa (AA) and the two tetraploids B. juncea (AABB) and B. napus (AACC). Pan-centromere analysis reveals that Brassica centromeres are extensively invaded by retrotransposons and show remarkable diversity in size and structure. While A- and C-genome centromeres feature distinct patterns of satellites, B-genome centromeres are devoid of satellites. The centromeric satellite expansion in the C-genome is reminiscent of the layered expansions observed in human centromeres. Accordingly, we propose a working model of centromere evolution reconstructing the key evolutionary events leading to current Brassica centromere structures. These insights will illuminate plant centromere evolution and guide the design of crop synthetic chromosomes. This study characterizes the pan-centromere landscape and evolutionary dynamics in Brassica, generating and comparing telomere-to-telomere genome assemblies of multiple morphotypes and shedding light on centromere evolution during domestication.","PeriodicalId":18904,"journal":{"name":"Nature Plants","volume":"11 11","pages":"2240-2253"},"PeriodicalIF":13.6,"publicationDate":"2025-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145261280","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-10DOI: 10.1038/s41477-025-02129-z
Myeong Hoon Kang, Juhyeon Lee, Jinkwang Kim, Hazara Begum Mohammad, Jeehye Park, Hyun Ju Jung, Seonghwan Kim, Heeho Lee, Seong Wook Yang, June M. Kwak, Min-Sik Kim, Jong-Chan Lee, Pyung Ok Lim
The transition from chloroplast biogenesis to degeneration during leaf senescence is critical for plants’ fitness, as it facilitates the relocation of nutrients to reproductive organs1–3. However, it remains largely unknown how the timing of this transition is regulated by the coordination between chloroplasts and the nucleus4,5. Here we describe the regulatory mechanism underlying this transition in Arabidopsis thaliana. CHLOROPLAST-RELATED LONG NONCODING RNA (CHLORELLA) is highly co-expressed with genes supporting chloroplast function during leaf development. Leaves lacking CHLORELLA exhibit precocious senescence and reduced expression of chloroplast-associated genes, suggesting that CHLORELLA helps maintain chloroplast function. Mechanistically, CHLORELLA transcripts are translocated into chloroplasts and contribute to the accumulation of the plastid-encoded RNA polymerase complex. As leaves age, the expression of CHLORELLA decreases, leading to reduced plastid-encoded RNA polymerase accumulation and diminished transcription of photosynthesis-related genes, which may trigger leaf senescence. Moreover, CHLORELLA expression is activated by GOLDEN2-LIKE1 and GOLDEN2-LIKE2, master regulators of chloroplast development6–8. Our study unravels a long-noncoding-RNA-based anterograde signalling mechanism that facilitates timely leaf senescence. Kang et al. uncover an anterograde signalling pathway that coordinates the transition of chloroplast function from biogenesis to degeneration, ensuring the timely onset of leaf senescence.
{"title":"The chloroplast-targeted long noncoding RNA CHLORELLA mediates chloroplast functional transition across leaf ageing via anterograde signalling","authors":"Myeong Hoon Kang, Juhyeon Lee, Jinkwang Kim, Hazara Begum Mohammad, Jeehye Park, Hyun Ju Jung, Seonghwan Kim, Heeho Lee, Seong Wook Yang, June M. Kwak, Min-Sik Kim, Jong-Chan Lee, Pyung Ok Lim","doi":"10.1038/s41477-025-02129-z","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41477-025-02129-z","url":null,"abstract":"The transition from chloroplast biogenesis to degeneration during leaf senescence is critical for plants’ fitness, as it facilitates the relocation of nutrients to reproductive organs1–3. However, it remains largely unknown how the timing of this transition is regulated by the coordination between chloroplasts and the nucleus4,5. Here we describe the regulatory mechanism underlying this transition in Arabidopsis thaliana. CHLOROPLAST-RELATED LONG NONCODING RNA (CHLORELLA) is highly co-expressed with genes supporting chloroplast function during leaf development. Leaves lacking CHLORELLA exhibit precocious senescence and reduced expression of chloroplast-associated genes, suggesting that CHLORELLA helps maintain chloroplast function. Mechanistically, CHLORELLA transcripts are translocated into chloroplasts and contribute to the accumulation of the plastid-encoded RNA polymerase complex. As leaves age, the expression of CHLORELLA decreases, leading to reduced plastid-encoded RNA polymerase accumulation and diminished transcription of photosynthesis-related genes, which may trigger leaf senescence. Moreover, CHLORELLA expression is activated by GOLDEN2-LIKE1 and GOLDEN2-LIKE2, master regulators of chloroplast development6–8. Our study unravels a long-noncoding-RNA-based anterograde signalling mechanism that facilitates timely leaf senescence. Kang et al. uncover an anterograde signalling pathway that coordinates the transition of chloroplast function from biogenesis to degeneration, ensuring the timely onset of leaf senescence.","PeriodicalId":18904,"journal":{"name":"Nature Plants","volume":"11 11","pages":"2217-2229"},"PeriodicalIF":13.6,"publicationDate":"2025-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145261287","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-07DOI: 10.1038/s41477-025-02132-4
Arabidopsis thaliana mutants for the MAIL family proteins MAIL1 and MAIN show widespread gene misregulation, but their molecular function is unknown. A genetic screen and genome-wide approaches now reveal that MAIL family proteins containing a plant mobile domain bind specific DNA motifs to prevent Polycomb-mediated deposition of repressive H3K27me3 at target genes, thus safeguarding their expression.
{"title":"MAIL proteins prevent Polycomb silencing to keep genes active","authors":"","doi":"10.1038/s41477-025-02132-4","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41477-025-02132-4","url":null,"abstract":"Arabidopsis thaliana mutants for the MAIL family proteins MAIL1 and MAIN show widespread gene misregulation, but their molecular function is unknown. A genetic screen and genome-wide approaches now reveal that MAIL family proteins containing a plant mobile domain bind specific DNA motifs to prevent Polycomb-mediated deposition of repressive H3K27me3 at target genes, thus safeguarding their expression.","PeriodicalId":18904,"journal":{"name":"Nature Plants","volume":"11 11","pages":"2196-2197"},"PeriodicalIF":13.6,"publicationDate":"2025-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145241086","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-07DOI: 10.1038/s41477-025-02125-3
Jian-Li Zhao, Yang Dong, Ao-Dan Huang, Sheng-Chang Duan, Xiao-Chang Peng, Hong Liao, Jiang-Hua Chen, Yin-Ling Luo, Qin-Ying Lan, Ya-Li Wang, Wen-Jing Wang, Xin-Meng Zhu, Pei-Wen Luo, Xue Xia, Bo Li, W. John Kress, Jia-Jia Han, Spencer C. H. Barrett, Wei Chen, Qing-Jun Li
In many flowering plants, male and female reproductive organs mature at different times to avoid self-pollination, a phenomenon termed dichogamy. Most dichogamous species are either protandrous or protogynous, making this strategy difficult to study genetically. However, in the ginger Alpinia mutica, protandrous and protogynous floral morphs co-occur within populations, and the synchronized rhythmic movement of styles and dehiscence of stamens promotes cross-pollination between morphs. Here we demonstrate that a single Mendelian locus with a dominant allele governing protogyny controls sexual polymorphism. We used haplotype-resolved genomes and population genomics to identify the dichogamy-determining region, revealing a large deletion in the protandrous morphotype. We found that the key gene SMPED1, located adjacent to the deletion, governs the timing of anther dehiscence and style movement. SMPED1 is widespread among angiosperms and probably has conserved function. Our findings represent a new genetic characterization of a key mating system gene controlling the synchrony of sex organs in flowering plants. This study reports that the gene SMPED1, located in a previously identified dichogamy-determining region in Alpinia species, controls the timing of sex-organ synchrony, improving our understanding of the evolutionary mechanisms of plant sexual diversity.
{"title":"Ginger genome reveals the SMPED1 gene causing sex-phase synchrony and outcrossing in a flowering plant","authors":"Jian-Li Zhao, Yang Dong, Ao-Dan Huang, Sheng-Chang Duan, Xiao-Chang Peng, Hong Liao, Jiang-Hua Chen, Yin-Ling Luo, Qin-Ying Lan, Ya-Li Wang, Wen-Jing Wang, Xin-Meng Zhu, Pei-Wen Luo, Xue Xia, Bo Li, W. John Kress, Jia-Jia Han, Spencer C. H. Barrett, Wei Chen, Qing-Jun Li","doi":"10.1038/s41477-025-02125-3","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41477-025-02125-3","url":null,"abstract":"In many flowering plants, male and female reproductive organs mature at different times to avoid self-pollination, a phenomenon termed dichogamy. Most dichogamous species are either protandrous or protogynous, making this strategy difficult to study genetically. However, in the ginger Alpinia mutica, protandrous and protogynous floral morphs co-occur within populations, and the synchronized rhythmic movement of styles and dehiscence of stamens promotes cross-pollination between morphs. Here we demonstrate that a single Mendelian locus with a dominant allele governing protogyny controls sexual polymorphism. We used haplotype-resolved genomes and population genomics to identify the dichogamy-determining region, revealing a large deletion in the protandrous morphotype. We found that the key gene SMPED1, located adjacent to the deletion, governs the timing of anther dehiscence and style movement. SMPED1 is widespread among angiosperms and probably has conserved function. Our findings represent a new genetic characterization of a key mating system gene controlling the synchrony of sex organs in flowering plants. This study reports that the gene SMPED1, located in a previously identified dichogamy-determining region in Alpinia species, controls the timing of sex-organ synchrony, improving our understanding of the evolutionary mechanisms of plant sexual diversity.","PeriodicalId":18904,"journal":{"name":"Nature Plants","volume":"11 11","pages":"2254-2267"},"PeriodicalIF":13.6,"publicationDate":"2025-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145241122","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-06DOI: 10.1038/s41477-025-02114-6
Jianyong An, Liu Fang, Willem Cremers, Kornelija Aleksejeva, Yiyang Wang, Guangdong Li, Meng Zhang, Jin Huang, Xiaofan Ma, Qingqin Cao, Ton Bisseling, Erik Limpens
Cell division and specification are crucial for plant development and coping with diverse environmental cues. Most land plants rely on symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi to cope with soil nutrient limitations by forming arbuscules in root inner cortex cells. What determines the AM susceptibility of these inner cortex cells is currently unknown. Here we show that DELLA transcriptional regulators control the number of inner cortex cells with an AM-susceptible identity at the root stem cell niche of Medicago truncatula in a dose-dependent manner. Genetic analyses suggest that this activity converges with the well-known mobile SHORT-ROOT transcription factor regulating ground tissue development. Furthermore, we show that MtDELLA1 protein moves from the stele/endodermis to the cortex in the mature part of the root to facilitate arbuscule formation. We propose that the formation of a root inner cortex cell identity controlled by mobile DELLA and SHORT-ROOT is a fundamental basis for AM symbiosis. This study reveals that mobile transcriptional regulators DELLA and SHORT-ROOT control the number of root inner cortex cell layers able to host symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in Medicago truncatula.
{"title":"A mobile DELLA controls Medicago truncatula root cortex patterning to host arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi","authors":"Jianyong An, Liu Fang, Willem Cremers, Kornelija Aleksejeva, Yiyang Wang, Guangdong Li, Meng Zhang, Jin Huang, Xiaofan Ma, Qingqin Cao, Ton Bisseling, Erik Limpens","doi":"10.1038/s41477-025-02114-6","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41477-025-02114-6","url":null,"abstract":"Cell division and specification are crucial for plant development and coping with diverse environmental cues. Most land plants rely on symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi to cope with soil nutrient limitations by forming arbuscules in root inner cortex cells. What determines the AM susceptibility of these inner cortex cells is currently unknown. Here we show that DELLA transcriptional regulators control the number of inner cortex cells with an AM-susceptible identity at the root stem cell niche of Medicago truncatula in a dose-dependent manner. Genetic analyses suggest that this activity converges with the well-known mobile SHORT-ROOT transcription factor regulating ground tissue development. Furthermore, we show that MtDELLA1 protein moves from the stele/endodermis to the cortex in the mature part of the root to facilitate arbuscule formation. We propose that the formation of a root inner cortex cell identity controlled by mobile DELLA and SHORT-ROOT is a fundamental basis for AM symbiosis. This study reveals that mobile transcriptional regulators DELLA and SHORT-ROOT control the number of root inner cortex cell layers able to host symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in Medicago truncatula.","PeriodicalId":18904,"journal":{"name":"Nature Plants","volume":"11 10","pages":"2156-2167"},"PeriodicalIF":13.6,"publicationDate":"2025-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145235544","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-03DOI: 10.1038/s41477-025-02127-1
Thierry Pélissier, Lucas Jarry, Margaux Olivier, Gabin Dajoux, Marie-Noëlle Pouch-Pélissier, Charles Courtois, Julie Descombin, Nathalie Picault, Guillaume Moissiard, Olivier Mathieu
In plants and animals, Polycomb group proteins are crucial for development, regulating gene expression through the trimethylation of lysine 27 on histone H3 and subsequent gene silencing. While the specification of Polycomb silencing targets is increasingly understood, it remains unclear how certain genes with apparent silencing-attracting features escape this process. Here we show that the plant-mobile-domain-C-containing proteins MAINTENANCE OF MERISTEMS (MAIN), MAIN-LIKE 1 (MAIL1) and MAIL2 oppose Polycomb silencing at numerous actively transcribed genes in Arabidopsis. Mutations in MAIN, MAIL1 or MAIL2 result in Polycomb-group-dependent ectopic H3 K27 trimethylation, often associated with transcriptional repression. We show that MAIL1 (which functions in concert with MAIN) and MAIL2 target distinct gene sets and associate with chromatin at specific DNA sequence motifs. We demonstrate that the integrity of these motif sequences is essential for promoting expression and antagonizing H3 K27 trimethylation. Our results unveil a system opposing Polycomb silencing that involves plant mobile domain C protein–DNA motif modules, expanding our understanding of eukaryotic gene regulation mechanisms. This study reveals that plant proteins MAIL1, MAIN and MAIL2 function as anti-silencing factors that maintain active gene expression. They bind specific DNA motifs to prevent Polycomb-mediated repression, which is crucial for normal development.
在植物和动物中，Polycomb蛋白对发育至关重要，通过组蛋白H3上赖氨酸27的三甲基化和随后的基因沉默来调节基因表达。虽然Polycomb沉默靶点的详细说明越来越被了解，但某些具有明显沉默吸引特征的基因如何逃脱这一过程仍不清楚。在这里，我们发现含有植物移动结构域c的分生组织维护蛋白（MAIN）、MAIN- like 1 （MAIL1）和MAIL2在拟南芥中反对多梳沉默的许多活跃转录基因。MAIN， MAIL1或MAIL2的突变导致polycomb -group依赖性异位H3 K27三甲基化，通常与转录抑制相关。我们发现MAIL1（与MAIN协同作用）和MAIL2针对不同的基因集，并在特定的DNA序列基序上与染色质相关联。我们证明了这些基序序列的完整性对于促进表达和拮抗h3k27三甲基化至关重要。我们的研究结果揭示了一个涉及植物移动结构域C蛋白- dna基序模块的反对Polycomb沉默的系统，扩大了我们对真核生物基因调控机制的理解。
{"title":"Plant mobile domain protein–DNA motif modules counteract Polycomb silencing to stabilize gene expression","authors":"Thierry Pélissier, Lucas Jarry, Margaux Olivier, Gabin Dajoux, Marie-Noëlle Pouch-Pélissier, Charles Courtois, Julie Descombin, Nathalie Picault, Guillaume Moissiard, Olivier Mathieu","doi":"10.1038/s41477-025-02127-1","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41477-025-02127-1","url":null,"abstract":"In plants and animals, Polycomb group proteins are crucial for development, regulating gene expression through the trimethylation of lysine 27 on histone H3 and subsequent gene silencing. While the specification of Polycomb silencing targets is increasingly understood, it remains unclear how certain genes with apparent silencing-attracting features escape this process. Here we show that the plant-mobile-domain-C-containing proteins MAINTENANCE OF MERISTEMS (MAIN), MAIN-LIKE 1 (MAIL1) and MAIL2 oppose Polycomb silencing at numerous actively transcribed genes in Arabidopsis. Mutations in MAIN, MAIL1 or MAIL2 result in Polycomb-group-dependent ectopic H3 K27 trimethylation, often associated with transcriptional repression. We show that MAIL1 (which functions in concert with MAIN) and MAIL2 target distinct gene sets and associate with chromatin at specific DNA sequence motifs. We demonstrate that the integrity of these motif sequences is essential for promoting expression and antagonizing H3 K27 trimethylation. Our results unveil a system opposing Polycomb silencing that involves plant mobile domain C protein–DNA motif modules, expanding our understanding of eukaryotic gene regulation mechanisms. This study reveals that plant proteins MAIL1, MAIN and MAIL2 function as anti-silencing factors that maintain active gene expression. They bind specific DNA motifs to prevent Polycomb-mediated repression, which is crucial for normal development.","PeriodicalId":18904,"journal":{"name":"Nature Plants","volume":"11 11","pages":"2286-2299"},"PeriodicalIF":13.6,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145225583","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A distinctive protein and lipid composition underlies the distinct function of each organelle, regulated by balanced anterograde and retrograde membrane trafficking. The vacuole, the largest plant organelle, is pivotal in various plant functions, and its protein composition is tightly regulated by bidirectional trafficking. However, the existence of retrograde transport from the plant vacuole has remained unverified. Here we demonstrate retrograde trafficking from the vacuole in Arabidopsis. We observed the retrieval of VAMP727, a plant-unique vacuolar membrane fusion machinery, from the vacuolar membrane. VAMP727 retrieval is facilitated by sorting nexin proteins, which independently diversified between plant and non-plant systems. Furthermore, we show that the core retromer complex and sorting nexins act independently in distinct retrograde transport events with specific cargos. Plant cells have thus elaborated a unique retrieval mechanism from the vacuole, underpinning the neofunctionalization of VAMP727 during plant evolution. Feng et al. uncover a retrograde trafficking route from the plant vacuole, showing that sorting nexins retrieve the plant-specific SNARE VAMP727 and revealing distinct pathways from the core retromer system.
{"title":"Retrieval from vacuolar and endosomal compartments underpinning the neofunctionalization of SNARE in plants","authors":"Yihong Feng, Kazuo Ebine, Yoko Ito, Takehiko Kanazawa, Tatsuya Sawasaki, Akira Nozawa, Tomohiro Uemura, Akihiko Nakano, Takashi Ueda","doi":"10.1038/s41477-025-02115-5","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41477-025-02115-5","url":null,"abstract":"A distinctive protein and lipid composition underlies the distinct function of each organelle, regulated by balanced anterograde and retrograde membrane trafficking. The vacuole, the largest plant organelle, is pivotal in various plant functions, and its protein composition is tightly regulated by bidirectional trafficking. However, the existence of retrograde transport from the plant vacuole has remained unverified. Here we demonstrate retrograde trafficking from the vacuole in Arabidopsis. We observed the retrieval of VAMP727, a plant-unique vacuolar membrane fusion machinery, from the vacuolar membrane. VAMP727 retrieval is facilitated by sorting nexin proteins, which independently diversified between plant and non-plant systems. Furthermore, we show that the core retromer complex and sorting nexins act independently in distinct retrograde transport events with specific cargos. Plant cells have thus elaborated a unique retrieval mechanism from the vacuole, underpinning the neofunctionalization of VAMP727 during plant evolution. Feng et al. uncover a retrograde trafficking route from the plant vacuole, showing that sorting nexins retrieve the plant-specific SNARE VAMP727 and revealing distinct pathways from the core retromer system.","PeriodicalId":18904,"journal":{"name":"Nature Plants","volume":"11 10","pages":"2168-2180"},"PeriodicalIF":13.6,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145215792","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-03DOI: 10.1038/s41477-025-02122-6
Maite Colinas, Chloée Tymen, Joshua C. Wood, Anja David, Jens Wurlitzer, Clara Morweiser, Klaus Gase, Ryan M. Alam, Gabriel R. Titchiner, John P. Hamilton, Sarah Heinicke, Ron P. Dirks, Adriana A. Lopes, Lorenzo Caputi, C. Robin Buell, Sarah E. O’Connor
Iridoids are specialized monoterpenes ancestral to asterid flowering plants1,2 that play key roles in defence and are also essential precursors for pharmacologically important alkaloids3,4. The biosynthesis of all iridoids involves the cyclization of the reactive biosynthetic intermediate 8-oxocitronellyl enol. Here, using a variety of approaches including single-nuclei sequencing, we report the discovery of iridoid cyclases from a phylogenetically broad sample of asterid species that synthesize iridoids. We show that these enzymes catalyse formation of 7S-cis-trans and 7R-cis-cis nepetalactol, the two major iridoid stereoisomers found in plants. Our work uncovers a key missing step in the otherwise well-characterized early iridoid biosynthesis pathway in asterids. This discovery unlocks the possibility to generate previously inaccessible iridoid stereoisomers, which will enable metabolic engineering for the sustainable production of valuable iridoid and iridoid-derived compounds. Iridoids are terpenoid metabolites found in thousands of plants. Using single-cell transcriptomics, the authors discovered an unexpected enzyme that has been neofunctionalized to catalyse the cyclization required to form the iridoid scaffold.
{"title":"Discovery of iridoid cyclase completes the iridoid pathway in asterids","authors":"Maite Colinas, Chloée Tymen, Joshua C. Wood, Anja David, Jens Wurlitzer, Clara Morweiser, Klaus Gase, Ryan M. Alam, Gabriel R. Titchiner, John P. Hamilton, Sarah Heinicke, Ron P. Dirks, Adriana A. Lopes, Lorenzo Caputi, C. Robin Buell, Sarah E. O’Connor","doi":"10.1038/s41477-025-02122-6","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41477-025-02122-6","url":null,"abstract":"Iridoids are specialized monoterpenes ancestral to asterid flowering plants1,2 that play key roles in defence and are also essential precursors for pharmacologically important alkaloids3,4. The biosynthesis of all iridoids involves the cyclization of the reactive biosynthetic intermediate 8-oxocitronellyl enol. Here, using a variety of approaches including single-nuclei sequencing, we report the discovery of iridoid cyclases from a phylogenetically broad sample of asterid species that synthesize iridoids. We show that these enzymes catalyse formation of 7S-cis-trans and 7R-cis-cis nepetalactol, the two major iridoid stereoisomers found in plants. Our work uncovers a key missing step in the otherwise well-characterized early iridoid biosynthesis pathway in asterids. This discovery unlocks the possibility to generate previously inaccessible iridoid stereoisomers, which will enable metabolic engineering for the sustainable production of valuable iridoid and iridoid-derived compounds. Iridoids are terpenoid metabolites found in thousands of plants. Using single-cell transcriptomics, the authors discovered an unexpected enzyme that has been neofunctionalized to catalyse the cyclization required to form the iridoid scaffold.","PeriodicalId":18904,"journal":{"name":"Nature Plants","volume":"11 11","pages":"2204-2216"},"PeriodicalIF":13.6,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.comhttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41477-025-02122-6.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145215796","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-03DOI: 10.1038/s41477-025-02133-3
Philipp Zerbe
Plants produce a remarkable spectrum of specialized metabolites that shape ecological interactions with other organisms and enable environmental adaptation. Deciphering the biosynthesis and function of these metabolites can unlock fundamental resources for crop optimization and synthetic biology platforms to advance the production of food and plant-derived pharmaceuticals and other bioproducts.
{"title":"The missing link in the iridoid puzzle","authors":"Philipp Zerbe","doi":"10.1038/s41477-025-02133-3","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41477-025-02133-3","url":null,"abstract":"Plants produce a remarkable spectrum of specialized metabolites that shape ecological interactions with other organisms and enable environmental adaptation. Deciphering the biosynthesis and function of these metabolites can unlock fundamental resources for crop optimization and synthetic biology platforms to advance the production of food and plant-derived pharmaceuticals and other bioproducts.","PeriodicalId":18904,"journal":{"name":"Nature Plants","volume":"11 11","pages":"2189-2191"},"PeriodicalIF":13.6,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145215836","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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