An ancient family of lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases with roles in arthropod development and biomass digestion

Federico Sabbadin, Glyn R. Hemsworth, Luisa Ciano, Bernard Henrissat, Paul Dupree, Theodora Tryfona, Rita D. S. Marques, Sean T. Sweeney, Katrin Besser, Luisa Elias, Giovanna Pesante, Yi Li, Adam A. Dowle, Rachel Bates, Leonardo D. Gomez, Rachael Simister, Gideon J. Davies, Paul H. Walton, Neil C. Bruce and Simon J. McQueen-Mason ()
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Federico Sabbadin: University of York
Glyn R. Hemsworth: University of Leeds
Luisa Ciano: University of York
Bernard Henrissat: Université Aix-Marseille
Paul Dupree: University of Cambridge
Theodora Tryfona: University of Cambridge
Rita D. S. Marques: University of Cambridge
Sean T. Sweeney: University of York
Katrin Besser: University of York
Luisa Elias: University of York
Giovanna Pesante: University of York
Yi Li: University of York
Adam A. Dowle: University of York
Rachel Bates: University of York
Leonardo D. Gomez: University of York
Rachael Simister: University of York
Gideon J. Davies: University of York
Paul H. Walton: University of York
Neil C. Bruce: University of York
Simon J. McQueen-Mason: University of York

Nature Communications, 2018, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract Thermobia domestica belongs to an ancient group of insects and has a remarkable ability to digest crystalline cellulose without microbial assistance. By investigating the digestive proteome of Thermobia, we have identified over 20 members of an uncharacterized family of lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs). We show that this LPMO family spans across several clades of the Tree of Life, is of ancient origin, and was recruited by early arthropods with possible roles in remodeling endogenous chitin scaffolds during development and metamorphosis. Based on our in-depth characterization of Thermobia’s LPMOs, we propose that diversification of these enzymes toward cellulose digestion might have endowed ancestral insects with an effective biochemical apparatus for biomass degradation, allowing the early colonization of land during the Paleozoic Era. The vital role of LPMOs in modern agricultural pests and disease vectors offers new opportunities to help tackle global challenges in food security and the control of infectious diseases.

Date: 2018
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:9:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-018-03142-x

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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-03142-x

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