Ancient origin of the biosynthesis of lignin precursors.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Lignin plays an important role in plant structural support and water transport, and is considered one of the hallmarks of land plants. The recent discovery of lignin or its precursors in various algae has raised questions on the evolution of its biosynthetic pathway, which could be much more ancient than previously thought. To determine the taxonomic distribution of the lignin biosynthesis genes, we screened all publicly available genomes of algae and their closest non-photosynthetic relatives, as well as representative land plants. We also performed phylogenetic analysis of these genes to decipher the evolution and origin(s) of lignin biosynthesis.

Results

Enzymes involved in making p-coumaryl alcohol, the simplest lignin monomer, are found in a variety of photos

SUBMITTER: Labeeuw L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4455696 | biostudies-literature | 2015 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature