Plants as biofactories for production of the aphid sex pheromone nepetalactone

Ontiveros-Cisneros, Abraham; Salfeld, Jule; Ding, Bao Jian; Wang, Hong Lei, et al. (2025-01-01). Plants as biofactories for production of the aphid sex pheromone nepetalactone. Physiologia Plantarum, 177, (1)
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DOI:
| Published | English
Authors:
Ontiveros-Cisneros, Abraham ; Salfeld, Jule ; Ding, Bao Jian ; Wang, Hong Lei , et al.
Department:
Molecular Biosciences
Pheromone Group
Molecular Cell Biology
Speciation, Adaptation and Coevolution
BECC: Biodiversity and Ecosystem services in a Changing Climate
Plant Biology
Research Group:
Pheromone Group
Speciation, Adaptation and Coevolution
Plant Biology
Abstract:

Aphids cause massive agricultural losses through direct damage or as pathogen vectors. Control often relies on insecticides, which are expensive and not selective. An interesting alternative is to use aphid sex pheromones nepetalactone (NON) and nepetalactol (NOL) to interfere with aphid mating or attract aphid predators. Here, we explore production of these compounds in plants, as their precursors can be derived from mevalonate (MVA) and methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathways. By introducing six genes, including a major latex protein-like (MLPL) enzyme, we engineered a functional nepetalactol biosynthetic pathway into plants. Transient expression of these enzymes in N. benthamiana caused production of nepetalactone, without the need for external supplementation with substrates. Targeting all six enzymes into the chloroplast appeared to result in higher NON yields than just chloroplast-targeting the first two enzymes. We could not detect NOL, suggesting it is rapidly oxidised to NON. In addition, we produced NON in stably transformed Camelina sativa (Camelina) lines. Interestingly, the specific NON enantiomer was different in N. benthamiana compared to in Camelina, indicating the value of different platforms for producing specific isoforms. This opens possibilities for using plants as green factories of pheromones for baits or as pheromone dispensers that interfere with insect behaviour.

Keywords:
Biochemistry ; Molecular Biology ; Botany
ISSN:
0031-9317
LUP-ID:
c6ddbe1f-3555-411d-a06c-0261a7f74236 | Link: https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/c6ddbe1f-3555-411d-a06c-0261a7f74236 | Statistics

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