Convergent evolution in biosynthesis of cyanogenic defence compounds in plants and insects

Niels Bjerg Jensen, Mika Zagrobelny, Karin Hjernø, Carl Erik Olsen, Jens Houghton-Larsen, Jonas Borch, Birger Lindberg Møller () and Søren Bak
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Niels Bjerg Jensen: Plant Biochemistry Laboratory, University of Copenhagen, 40 Thorvaldsensvej, DK 1871 Frederiksberg C, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Mika Zagrobelny: Plant Biochemistry Laboratory, University of Copenhagen, 40 Thorvaldsensvej, DK 1871 Frederiksberg C, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Karin Hjernø: University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark.
Carl Erik Olsen: University of Copenhagen, 40 Thorvaldsensvej, DK-1871 Frederiksberg C, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Jens Houghton-Larsen: Evolva A/S, Bülowsvej 25, DK-1870 Frederiksberg C
Jonas Borch: University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark.
Birger Lindberg Møller: Plant Biochemistry Laboratory, University of Copenhagen, 40 Thorvaldsensvej, DK 1871 Frederiksberg C, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Søren Bak: Plant Biochemistry Laboratory, University of Copenhagen, 40 Thorvaldsensvej, DK 1871 Frederiksberg C, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Nature Communications, 2011, vol. 2, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract For more than 420 million years, plants, insects and their predators have co-evolved based on a chemical arms race including deployment of refined chemical defence systems by each player. Cyanogenic glucosides are produced by numerous plants and by some specialized insects and serve an important role as defence compounds in these intimate interactions. Burnet moth larvae are able to sequester cyanogenic glucosides from their food plant as well as to carry out de novo biosynthesis. Here we show that three genes (CYP405A2, CYP332A3 and UGT33A1) encode the entire biosynthetic pathway of cyanogenic glucosides in the Burnet moth Zygaena filipendulae. In both plants and insects, convergent evolution has led to two multifunctional P450 enzymes each catalysing unusual reactions and a glucosyl-transferase acting in sequence to catalyse cyanogenic glucoside formation. Thus, plants and insects have independently found a way to package a cyanide time bomb to fend off herbivores and predators.

Date: 2011
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms1271

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