Gene

Transformation (genetics)

Metabolite

Bacteria

Biology

Biochemistry

Botany

Computational biology

Metabolic pathway

Alternative medicine

Genetics

Arabidopsis

Genome

Biosynthesis

Mutant

Triterpene

Acyltransferases

Plant metabolism

Gut flora

Medicine

Pathology

Arabidopsis thaliana

Science

Plant specialized metabolites have ecological functions, yet the presence of numerous uncharacterized biosynthetic genes in plant genomes suggests that many molecules remain unknown. We discovered a triterpene biosynthetic network in the roots of the small mustard plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Collectively, we have elucidated and reconstituted three divergent pathways for the biosynthesis of root triterpenes, namely thalianin (seven steps), thalianyl medium-chain fatty acid esters (three steps), and arabidin (five steps). A. thaliana mutants disrupted in the biosynthesis of these compounds have altered root microbiota. In vitro bioassays with purified compounds reveal selective growth modulation activities of pathway metabolites toward root microbiota members and their biochemical transformation and utilization by bacteria, supporting a role for this biosynthetic network in shaping an Arabidopsis-specific root microbial community.

A specialized metabolic network selectively modulates <i>Arabidopsis</i> root microbiota

A specialized metabolic network selectively modulates Arabidopsis root microbiota