Canonical terpene synthase genes in arthropods

Wednesday, November 13, 2024

4:54 PM – 5:06 PM MST

Location: Phoenix Convention Center, 121 C, PCC

Presenting Author(s)

Feng Chen (he/him/his)

Professor
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee

Co-Author(s)

XC

Xinlu Chen

University of Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee

Co-Author(s)

JU

John M. Urban

Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research Laboratories
Baltimore, Maryland
JW

Jens Wurlitzer

Max Planck Institute
Jena, Germany
XW

Xiuting Wei

University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida
JH

Jin Han

University of Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
SO

Sarah E. O'Connor

Max Planck Institute
Jena, Germany
JR

Jeffrey D. Rudolf

University of Florida, Florida
TK

Tobias G. Köllner

Max Planck Institute

Insects use terpenoids for communication within and between species. While terpenesynthases derived from isoprenyl diphosphate synthase have been shown to catalyze terpenoidbiosynthesis in some insects, canonical terpene synthases (TPS) commonly found in plants,fungi, and bacteria were previously unidentified in insects. This study reveals the presence ofTPS genes in insects, likely originating via horizontal gene transfer from non-insect arthropods.By examining 361 insect genomes, we identified TPS genes in five species of the Sciaridae family(fungus gnats). Additionally, TPS genes were found in Collembola (springtails) and Acariformes (mites) among diverse non-insect arthropods. Selected TPS enzymes from Sciaridae,Collembola, and Acariformes display monoterpene, sesquiterpene, and/or diterpene synthaseactivities. Through comprehensive protein database searches and phylogenetic analysis, theTPS genes in Sciaridae were found to be most closely related to those in Acariformes,suggesting transfer of TPS genes from Acariformes to Sciaridae. The discovery of TPS genes ininsects and their possible evolutionary origin through intra-phylum gene transfer withinarthropods sheds new light on metabolic innovation in insects.