Positive selection drives adaptive diversification of the 4-coumarate: CoA ligase (4CL) gene in angiosperms.

ABSTRACT: Lignin and flavonoids play a vital role in the adaption of plants to a terrestrial environment. 4-Coumarate: coenzyme A ligase (4CL) is a key enzyme of general phenylpropanoid metabolism which provides the precursors for both lignin and flavonoids biosynthesis. However, very little is known about how such essential enzymatic functions evolve and diversify. Here, we analyze 4CL sequence variation patterns in a phylogenetic framework to further identify the evolutionary forces that lead to functional divergence. The results reveal that lignin-biosynthetic 4CLs are under positive selection. The majority of the positively selected sites are located in the substrate-binding pocket and the catalytic center, indicating that nonsynonymous substitutions might contribute to the functional evolution

SUBMITTER: Sun H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4569036 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature