Pathways to defense metabolites and evading fruit bitterness in genus Solanum evolved through 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases

• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-13211-4
• Publication Date: 2019-11-14T11:03:11Z
• Authors: Pablo D. Cárdenas; Prashant D. Sonawane; Uwe Heinig; Adam Jozwiak; Sayantan Panda; Bekele Abebie; Yana Kazachkova; Margarita Pliner; Tamar Unger; Dalia Wolf; Itai Ofner; Ester Vilaprinyo; Sagit Meir; Olga Davydov; Amit Gal-on; Saul Burdman; Ashok Giri; Dani Zamir; Tali Scherf; Jedrzej Szymanski; Ilana Rogachev; Asaph Aharoni
• Keywords: Patates; 0301 basic medicine; 2. Zero hunger; 0303 health sciences; Science; Agricultura; Q; Alberginiera; Quantitative Trait Loci; Genes, Plant; Hydroxylation; Solanum; Article; Dioxygenases; 03 medical and health sciences; Alkaloids; Fruit; Taste; Biocatalysis; Metabolome; Ketoglutaric Acids; Steroids; Tomaquera; Genètica; Solanum tuberosum

The genus Solanum comprises three food crops (potato, tomato, and eggplant), which are consumed on daily basis worldwide also producers of notorious anti-nutritional steroidal glycoalkaloids (SGAs). Hydroxylated SGAs (i.e. leptinines) serve as precursors for leptines that act defenses against Colorado Potato Beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say), an important pest potato worldwide. However, SGA hydroxylating enzymes remain unknown. Here, we discover 2-OXOGLUTARATE-DEPENDENT-DIOXYGENASE (2-ODD) catalyze SGA-hydroxylation across various species. In contrast to cultivated potato, chacoense, a widespread wild species, has evolved 2-ODD enzyme leading the formation leptinines. Furthermore, find related in tomato catalyzes hydroxylation bitter α-tomatine hydroxytomatine, first committed step chemical shift towards downstream ripening-associated non-bitter (e.g. esculeoside A). This prevents bitterness ripe fruit today otherwise would unpleasant taste more toxic.