Convergent acquisition of disulfide-forming enzymes in malodorous flowers
Identifying the metabolic and genetic changes that confer evolutionary novelty is essential for understanding the factors facilitating or constraining the occurrence of traits. We show that dimethyl disulfide (DMDS), a volatile compound that attracts saprophilous pollinators, is produced by a disulfide synthase (DSS) in the plant genus <i>Asarum</i> (Aristolochiaceae). DSS is derived from methanethiol oxidase (MTOX), an enzyme conserved among animals and plants, and similar DSS enzymes have independently evolved in two other plant genera. Three amino acid changes shared among the DSSs of independent origins were sufficient to cause a functional switch between MTOX and DSS. The small number of amino acid changes and the co-option of a highly conserved enzyme may explain why DMDS-emitting flowers are widespread among floral mimics.
Authors
- Kenji Fukushima (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2353-9274)
- Yudai Okuyama (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3437-5372)
- Kohei Takenaka Takano (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8803-0252)
- Satoshi Kakishima (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6000-3068)
- Yasuko Ito‐Inaba (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9598-5196)
- Atsushi J. Nagano (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7891-5049)
- Takeru Nakazato (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0706-2867)
- Anna K. Valchanova (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-6753-364X)
Institutions
- Ryukoku University (JP)
- National Institute of Genetics (JP)
- University of Miyazaki (JP)
- Nagano University (JP)
- Tohoku University (JP)
- Keio University (JP)
- Mount Fuji Research Institute (JP)
- National Museum of Nature and Science (JP)
- Research Organization of Information and Systems (JP)
- The University of Tokyo (JP)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Science
- Published
- 2025-05-08
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adu8988
- Citations
- 8
- Primary Topic
- Plant and animal studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 24.21