Genome‐wide association identifies a BAHD acyltransferase activity that assembles an ester of glucuronosylglycerol and phenylacetic acid

• DOI: 10.1111/tpj.16737
• Publication Date: 2024-04-01T17:09:35Z
• Authors: Jeffrey P. Simpson; Colin Y. Kim; Amanpreet Kaur; Jing‐Ke Weng; Brian Dilkes; Clint Chapple
• Keywords: Acyltransferases; Acyltransferases; Phenylacetic acid

SUMMARY Genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) are an effective approach to identify new specialized metabolites and the genes involved in their biosynthesis regulation. In this study, GWAS of Arabidopsis thaliana soluble leaf stem identified alleles uncharacterized BAHD‐family acyltransferase (AT5G57840) associated with natural variation three structurally related metabolites. These were esters glucuronosylglycerol, one metabolite containing phenylacetic acid as acyl component ester. Knockout overexpression AT5G57840 heterologous Nicotiana benthamiana Escherichia coli demonstrated that it is capable utilizing phenylacetyl‐CoA donor glucuronosylglycerol acceptor. We, thus, named protein Glucuronosylglycerol Ester Synthase (GGES). Additionally, phenylacetyl increased CYP79A2 mutants overproduce was lost knockout UDP‐sulfoquinovosyl: diacylglycerol sulfoquinovosyl transferase, enzyme required for glycerolipid metabolism under phosphate‐starvation stress. GGES a member well‐supported clade BAHD family acyltransferases arose by duplication neofunctionalized during evolution Brassicales within larger includes HCT well enzymes synthesize other plant‐specialized Together, work extends our understanding catalytic diversity uncovers pathway involves contributions from both phenylalanine lipid metabolism.