An evolutionary view of functional diversity in family 1 glycosyltransferases

Abstract

SUMMARYGlycosyltransferases (GTs) (EC 2.4.x.y) catalyze the transfer of sugar moieties to a wide range of acceptor molecules, such as sugars, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids, antibiotics and other small molecules, including plant secondary metabolites. These enzymes can be classified into at least 92 families, of which family 1 glycosyltransferases (GT1), often referred to as UDP glycosyltransferases (UGTs), is the largest in the plant kingdom. To understand how UGTs expanded in both number and function during evolution of land plants, we screened genome sequences from six plants (Physcomitrella patens, Selaginella moellendorffii, Populus trichocarpa, Oryza sativa, Arabidopsis thaliana and Arabidopsis lyrata) for the presence of a conserved UGT protein domain. Phylogenetic analyses of the UGT genes revealed a significant expansion of UGTs, with lineage specificity and a higher duplication rate in vascular plants after the divergence of Physcomitrella. The UGTs from the six species fell into 24 orthologous groups that contained genes derived from the common ancestor of these six species. Some orthologous groups contained multiple UGT families with known functions, suggesting that UGTs discriminate compounds as substrates in a lineage-specific manner. Orthologous groups containing only a single UGT family tend to play a crucial role in plants, suggesting that such UGT families may have not expanded because of evolutionary constraints.

Nicotinate O-Glucosylation Is an Evolutionarily Metabolic Trait Important for Seed Germination under Stress Conditions in Arabidopsis thaliana

“…However, the proportion of total UGTs in the Arabidopsis genome that have been functionally characterized remains at <40% (41/112) (Supplemental Data Set 1). There are two explanations for this: (1) The lineage-specific expansion of UGTs and independent acquisition of functions have occasionally led to imprecise prediction only based on the sequence and function of UGTs (Yonekura-Sakakibara and Hanada, 2011). In this study, only UGT74F2 (there are three identified SAGTs, including UGT74F1, UGT74F2, and UGT76B1, in Arabidopsis thus far) had the NAOGT activity.…”

Abscisic Acid Uridine Diphosphate Glucosyltransferases Play a Crucial Role in Abscisic Acid Homeostasis in Arabidopsis

“…and Its Two Closely Related Homologs, UGT71B7 and UGT71B8, Lower Cellular ABA Levels Arabidopsis UGTs represent a superfamily containing more than 100 homologs (Ross et al, 2001;LorencKukuła et al, 2004;Yonekura-Sakakibara and Hanada, 2011). Phylogenetic analysis reveals that the Arabidopsis UGT superfamily can be divided into 12 distinct subgroups .…”

“…; Ross et al, 2001;Yonekura-Sakakibara and Hanada, 2011). Arabidopsis contains a large number of UGTs.…”

Enzymatic Synthesis and Structural Characterization of Rebaudioside D3, a Minor Steviol Glycoside of &lt;i&gt;Stevia rebaudiana&lt;/i&gt; Bertoni

“…These glycosylation are typically catalyzed by the UDP-glycosyltransferases (UGTs) using uridine 5'-diphosphoglucose (UDP-glucose) as a donor of the sugar moiety [11] [12]. UGTs in plants make up a very diverse group of enzymes that transfer a glucose residue from UDP-glucose to steviol.…”