Biology subjects

Villette, C.

Publications and source records attributed to Villette, C..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2022

Evolutionary metabolomics of specialized metabolism diversification in the genus Nicotiana highlights allopolyploidy-mediated innovations in N-acylnornicotine metabolism

Specialized metabolite (SM) diversification is a core process to plants adaptation to diverse ecological niches. Here we implemented a computational mass spectrometry (MS)-based metabolomics approach to explore SM diversification in tissues of 20 species covering Nicotiana phylogenetics sections. To drastically increase metabolite annotation, we created a large in silico fragmentation database, comprising more than 1 million structures, and scripts for connecting class prediction to consensus substructures. Altogether, the approach provides an unprecedented cartography of SM diversity and section-specific innovations in this genus. As a case-study, and in combination with NMR and MS imaging, we explored the distribution of N-acyl nornicotines, alkaloids predicted to be specific to Repandae allopolyploids, and revealed their prevalence in the genus, albeit at much lower magnitude, as well as a greater structural diversity than previously thought. Altogether, the novel data integration approaches provided here should act as a resource for future research in plant SM evolution. TeaserComputational metabolomics delineates main trends in the diversification of specialized metabolism in the genus Nicotiana

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2022

Social environment and chronological age shape eusocial insect species: the case of the ant workers.

Position within the social group has consequences on individual lifespans in diverse taxa. This is especially obvious in eusocial insects, where workers differ in both the tasks they perform and their aging rates. However, in eusocial wasps, bees and ants, the performed task usually depends strongly on age. As such, untangling the effects of social role and age on worker physiology is a key step towards understanding the coevolution of sociality and aging. We performed an experimental protocol that allowed a separate analysis of these two factors using four groups of black garden ant (Lasius niger) workers: young foragers, old foragers, young nest workers, and old nest workers. We highlighted age-related differences in the proteome and metabolome of workers that were primarily related to worker subcaste and only secondarily to age. The relative abundance of proteins and metabolites suggests an improved xenobiotic detoxification, and a fuel metabolism based more on lipid use than carbohydrate use in young ants, regardless of their social role. Regardless of age, proteins related to the digestive function were more abundant in nest workers than in foragers. Old foragers were mostly characterized by weak abundances of molecules with an antibiotic activity or involved in chemical communication. Finally, our results suggest that even in tiny species, extended lifespan may require to mitigate cancer risks. This is consistent with results found in eusocial rodents and thus opens up the discussion of shared mechanisms among distant taxa and the influence of sociality on life history traits such as longevity.

physiology↗

bioRxiv2021

Unravelling the puzzle of anthranoids metabolism in living plant cells using spectral imaging coupled to mass spectrometry

Vismione H (VH) is a fluorescent prenylated anthranoid produced by plants from the Hypericaceae family, with antiprotozoal activities against malaria and leishmaniosis. Little is known about its biosynthesis and metabolism in plants or its mode of action against parasites. When VH is isolated from Psorospermum glaberrimum, it is rapidly converted into madagascine anthrone and anthraquinone, which are characterized by markedly different fluorescent properties. To locate the fluorescence of VH in living plant cells and discriminate it from that of the other metabolites, an original strategy combining spectral imaging (SImaging), confocal microscopy and non-targeted metabolomics using mass spectrometry, was developed. Besides VH, structurally related molecules including madagascine, emodin, quinizarin as well as lapachol and fraxetin were analyzed. This strategy readily allowed a spatiotemporal characterization and discrimination of spectral fingerprints from anthranoids-derived metabolites and related complexes with cations and proteins. In addition, our study validates the capability of plant cells to metabolize VH into madagascine anthrone, anthraquinones and unexpected metabolites, leading to new hypotheses on the metabolism of anthranoids in plants.

plant biology↗