Over 100 Million Years of Enzyme Evolution Underpinning the Production of Morphine in the Papaveraceae Family of Flowering Plants.

ABSTRACT: Phylogenomic analysis of whole genome sequences of five benzylisoquinoline alkaloid (BIA)-producing species from the Ranunculales and Proteales orders of flowering plants revealed the sequence and timing of evolutionary events leading to the diversification of these compounds. (S)-Reticuline is a pivotal intermediate in the synthesis of many BIAs and our analyses revealed parallel evolution between the two orders, which diverged ∼122 million years ago (MYA). Berberine is present in species across the entire Ranunculales, and we found co-evolution of genes essential for production of the protoberberine class. The benzophenanthridine class, which includes the antimicrobial compound sanguinarine, is specific to the Papaveraceae family of Ranunculales, and biosynthetic genes emerged aft

SUBMITTER: Li Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7357826 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature