Abstract
Background: Caryocar brasiliense Camb. Caryocaraceae is a typical tree from the Brazilian Cerrado with commercial importance due to its edible fruit, known as pequi. This native plant holds significant economic value and is a key candidate for cropping systems. Rich in phytochemicals, such as phenolics, flavonoids, and terpenoids, it has shown notable health benefits. Methods: Considering the importance of terpenes and their biological properties, and based on the first draft genome of C. brasiliense, this study aimed to identify putative terpene synthase genes and classify them into the phylogenetic subfamilies previously identified across all plant lineages. The presence of terpenes was also verified in samples of the outer portion of the fruit by solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography mass-spectrometry. Results: Analysis of genome completeness showed that over 90% of genes were identified despite a highly fragmented assembly, with 71% containing complete gene sequences. Twenty-two genes were retained as putative terpene synthase genes considering their homology with the terpene synthase Hidden Markov Model (HMM) profiles in the Pfam-A database. Ten sequences with a minimum length of 298 amino acids were used for phylogenetic inference. In the resulting phylogenetic tree, C. brasiliense terpene synthase genes clustered within the different previously identified Angiosperm clades and allowed us to classify each gene into different phylogenetic subfamilies: six genes belonged to the h/d/a/b/g, three to the c, and one to the e/f. The headspace solid-phase microextraction technique, in conjunction with gas chromatography mass-spectrometry, has allowed for the identification of eleven chemical compounds, including a terpene. Conclusions: This initial identification of putative terpene synthase genes in pequi, together with the chemical analysis of the outer fruits, lays the groundwork for future studies aimed at optimizing terpene biosynthesis for both biological and commercial applications.
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Claims 9
Claim · model-written summary
The draft genome contained over 90% of genes.
- Taxon
- Caryocar brasiliense
Caryocar brasilienset0 - Outcome
- genes were identifiede0
- Value
- over 90%e0
- Qualifier
- highly fragmented assemblye0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“over 90% of genes were identified despite a highly fragmented assembly”
t0“Caryocar brasiliense”
Claim · model-written summary
The assembly contained complete sequences for 71% of genes.
- Taxon
- Caryocar brasilienseCaryocar brasilienset0
- Outcome
- complete gene sequencese0
- Value
- 71%e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“71% containing complete gene sequences”
t0“Caryocar brasiliense”
Claim · model-written summary
Twenty-two putative terpene synthase genes were retained by HMM homology.
- Taxon
- Caryocar brasilienseCaryocar brasilienset0
- Gene
- terpene synthase genese0
- Outcome
- putative terpene synthase genese0
- Value
- Twenty-two genese0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Twenty-two genes were retained as putative terpene synthase genes considering their homology with the terpene synthase Hidden Markov Model (HMM) profiles in the Pfam-A database.”
t0“Caryocar brasiliense”
Claim · model-written summary
Ten sequences of at least 298 amino acids were used for phylogenetic inference.
- Taxon
- Caryocar brasilienseCaryocar brasilienset0
- Outcome
- sequencese0
- Value
- Ten sequencese0
- Qualifier
- minimum length of 298 amino acidse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Ten sequences with a minimum length of 298 amino acids were used for phylogenetic inference.”
t0“Caryocar brasiliense”
Claim · model-written summary
Pequi terpene synthase genes clustered in previously identified angiosperm clades.
- Taxon
- C. brasilienseCaryocar brasiliensee0
- Gene
- terpene synthase genese0
- Outcome
- clustered within the different previously identified Angiosperm cladese0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“C. brasiliense terpene synthase genes clustered within the different previously identified Angiosperm clades”
Claim · model-written summary
Six terpene synthase genes belonged to the h/d/a/b/g subfamilies.
- Taxon
- Caryocar brasilienseCaryocar brasilienset0
- Outcome
- belonged to the h/d/a/b/ge0
- Value
- six genese0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“six genes belonged to the h/d/a/b/g”
t0“Caryocar brasiliense”
Claim · model-written summary
Three terpene synthase genes belonged to the c subfamily.
- Taxon
- Caryocar brasilienseCaryocar brasilienset0
- Outcome
- three to the ce0
- Value
- threee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“three to the c”
t0“Caryocar brasiliense”
Claim · model-written summary
One terpene synthase gene belonged to the e/f subfamily.
- Taxon
- Caryocar brasilienseCaryocar brasilienset0
- Outcome
- one to the e/fe0
- Value
- onee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“one to the e/f”
t0“Caryocar brasiliense”
Claim · model-written summary
Headspace SPME and GC-MS identified eleven compounds in outer fruit, including a terpene.
- Taxon
- Caryocar brasilienseCaryocar brasilienset0
- Outcome
- identification of eleven chemical compounds, including a terpenee0
- Value
- eleven chemical compoundse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The headspace solid-phase microextraction technique, in conjunction with gas chromatography mass-spectrometry, has allowed for the identification of eleven chemical compounds, including a terpene.”
t0“Caryocar brasiliense”