The Structure and Function of Major Plant Metabolite Modifications

• Published in: Molecular plant 2019-07, Vol.12 (7), p.899-919
• Main Authors: Wang, Shouchuang, Alseekh, Saleh, Fernie, Alisdair R., Luo, Jie
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cheminformatics - methods; Computational Biology - methods; evolution of metabolism; Flavonoids - chemistry; Flavonoids - genetics; Flavonoids - metabolism; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; genetic basis; Genome, Plant; metabolic diversity; Metabolic Networks and Pathways - genetics; Metabolic Networks and Pathways - physiology; metabolite modification; Metabolome - genetics; Metabolome - physiology; Phytochemicals - genetics; Phytochemicals - metabolism; Plant Growth Regulators - chemistry; Plant Growth Regulators - genetics; Plant Growth Regulators - metabolism; Plant Proteins - chemistry; Plant Proteins - genetics; Plant Proteins - metabolism; Plants - metabolism; Secondary Metabolism - genetics; Secondary Metabolism - physiology; Stress, Physiological - genetics; Stress, Physiological - physiology; Terpenes - chemistry; Terpenes - metabolism
• ISSN: 1674-2052; 1752-9867
• DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2019.06.001

Plants produce a myriad of structurally and functionally diverse metabolites that play many different roles in plant growth and development and in plant response to continually changing environmental conditions as well as abiotic and biotic stresses. This metabolic diversity is, to a large extent, due to chemical modification of the basic skeletons of metabolites. Here, we review the major known plant metabolite modifications and summarize the progress that has been achieved and the challenges we are facing in the field. We focus on discussing both technical and functional aspects in studying the influences that various modifications have on biosynthesis, degradation, transport, and storage of metabolites, as well as their bioactivity and toxicity. Finally, we discuss some emerging insights into the evolution of metabolic pathways and metabolite functionality. The diversity of plant metabolites is largely due to the chemical modification of the basic skeletons of the metabolites. Various modifications have important effects on the biosynthesis, degradation, transport, storage, biological activity, and toxicity of metabolites, as well as the evolution of metabolic pathways and metabolite functions.