View in EDS

Diversification of diterpene biosynthesis occurred early in octocoral evolution.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Diversification of diterpene biosynthesis occurred early in octocoral evolution.
Authors: Burkhardt, Immo1 iburkhardt@ucsd.edu, Bone, Hannah K.1, Grayson, Natalie E.1, Leucke, Helena A.1, Gutleben, Johanna1, Jensen, Paul R.1, Quattrini, Andrea M.2, Chase, Alexander B.3, Moore, Bradley S.1,4 bsmoore@ucsd.edu
Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 12/2/2025, Vol. 122 Issue 48, p1-9. 9p.
Subjects: Octocorallia, Terpenes, Deep-sea exploration, Heterogeneity, Biosynthesis, Cnidaria, Genomics, Biological evolution
Abstract: Octocorals are the major source of marine-derived bioactive terpenoids. However, the vast majority of explored chemistry is known from shallow-water species, leaving deep-sea octocorals largely unexplored. Recent genomic work uncovered terpene biosynthetic pathways encoded in octocoral genomes, enabling deeper investigation into the evolution and ecological distribution of these compounds. Here, we collected nine deep-sea octocoral specimens representing both taxonomic orders and profiled their terpenoid chemistry. These samples revealed extensive diversity in sesquiterpene scaffolds, along with repeated detection of five widespread structural families of diterpenes (xeniaphyllene-, cembrene B-, elisabethatriene-, cembrene A-, and klysimplexin R; collectively, "XBECK-type" diterpenoids). Phylogenetic analysis of terpene cyclase (TC) sequences from these samples, combined with publicly available sequences and functional characterization of selected genes, indicated that most TC genes encode functionally diverse sesquiterpene cyclases that corresponded to deeply rooted taxonomic origins, rather than biochemical function. We further identified five monophyletic clades, each comprising isofunctional enzymes that produce precursors for distinct XBECK-type diterpenoids and showing broad representation across octocoral taxa. These findings suggest that diterpenoid biosynthesis evolved early in coral evolution, with the last common ancestor already possessing multiple functionally distinct TC enzymes. Our results establish terpenoid production as an ancient, central trait of octocorals, irrespective of habitat, thereby highlighting the tremendous potential of deep-sea corals as sources for bioactive terpenoids. Finally, these findings raise intriguing questions about the evolutionary origins of these pathways within early cnidarians and across animal phyla more broadly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America is the property of National Academy of Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Engineering Source
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: egs
DbLabel: Engineering Source
An: 189928116
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Diversification of diterpene biosynthesis occurred early in octocoral evolution.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Burkhardt%2C+Immo%22">Burkhardt, Immo</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> iburkhardt@ucsd.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Bone%2C+Hannah+K%2E%22">Bone, Hannah K.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Grayson%2C+Natalie+E%2E%22">Grayson, Natalie E.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Leucke%2C+Helena+A%2E%22">Leucke, Helena A.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Gutleben%2C+Johanna%22">Gutleben, Johanna</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jensen%2C+Paul+R%2E%22">Jensen, Paul R.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Quattrini%2C+Andrea+M%2E%22">Quattrini, Andrea M.</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Chase%2C+Alexander+B%2E%22">Chase, Alexander B.</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Moore%2C+Bradley+S%2E%22">Moore, Bradley S.</searchLink><relatesTo>1,4</relatesTo><i> bsmoore@ucsd.edu</i>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Proceedings+of+the+National+Academy+of+Sciences+of+the+United+States+of+America%22">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America</searchLink>. 12/2/2025, Vol. 122 Issue 48, p1-9. 9p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subjects
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Octocorallia%22">Octocorallia</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Terpenes%22">Terpenes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Deep-sea+exploration%22">Deep-sea exploration</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Heterogeneity%22">Heterogeneity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Biosynthesis%22">Biosynthesis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cnidaria%22">Cnidaria</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Genomics%22">Genomics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Biological+evolution%22">Biological evolution</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Octocorals are the major source of marine-derived bioactive terpenoids. However, the vast majority of explored chemistry is known from shallow-water species, leaving deep-sea octocorals largely unexplored. Recent genomic work uncovered terpene biosynthetic pathways encoded in octocoral genomes, enabling deeper investigation into the evolution and ecological distribution of these compounds. Here, we collected nine deep-sea octocoral specimens representing both taxonomic orders and profiled their terpenoid chemistry. These samples revealed extensive diversity in sesquiterpene scaffolds, along with repeated detection of five widespread structural families of diterpenes (xeniaphyllene-, cembrene B-, elisabethatriene-, cembrene A-, and klysimplexin R; collectively, "XBECK-type" diterpenoids). Phylogenetic analysis of terpene cyclase (TC) sequences from these samples, combined with publicly available sequences and functional characterization of selected genes, indicated that most TC genes encode functionally diverse sesquiterpene cyclases that corresponded to deeply rooted taxonomic origins, rather than biochemical function. We further identified five monophyletic clades, each comprising isofunctional enzymes that produce precursors for distinct XBECK-type diterpenoids and showing broad representation across octocoral taxa. These findings suggest that diterpenoid biosynthesis evolved early in coral evolution, with the last common ancestor already possessing multiple functionally distinct TC enzymes. Our results establish terpenoid production as an ancient, central trait of octocorals, irrespective of habitat, thereby highlighting the tremendous potential of deep-sea corals as sources for bioactive terpenoids. Finally, these findings raise intriguing questions about the evolutionary origins of these pathways within early cnidarians and across animal phyla more broadly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America is the property of National Academy of Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=egs&AN=189928116
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1073/pnas.2520279122
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 9
        StartPage: 1
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Octocorallia
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Terpenes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Deep-sea exploration
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Heterogeneity
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Biosynthesis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Cnidaria
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Genomics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Biological evolution
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Diversification of diterpene biosynthesis occurred early in octocoral evolution.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Burkhardt, Immo
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Bone, Hannah K.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Grayson, Natalie E.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Leucke, Helena A.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Gutleben, Johanna
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Jensen, Paul R.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Quattrini, Andrea M.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Chase, Alexander B.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Moore, Bradley S.
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 02
              M: 12
              Text: 12/2/2025
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 00278424
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 122
            – Type: issue
              Value: 48
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
              Type: main
ResultId 1