GEPHE SUMMARY Print
Entry Status
Published
GepheID
GP00001391
Main curator
Courtier
PHENOTYPIC CHANGE
Trait Category
Trait
Trait State in Taxon A
Petunia axillaris pollinated by nocturnal hawkmoths
Trait State in Taxon B
Petunia exserta pollinated by hummingbirds
Ancestral State
Taxon A
Taxonomic Status
Taxon A
Common Name
-
Synonyms
large white petunia; white moon petunia; Petunia axillaris (Lam.) Britton, Stern & Poggenb.; Petunia axilliaris
Rank
species
Lineage
Show more ... tina; Embryophyta; Tracheophyta; Euphyllophyta; Spermatophyta; Magnoliophyta; Mesangiospermae; eudicotyledons; Gunneridae; Pentapetalae; asterids; lamiids; Solanales; Solanaceae; Petunioideae; Petunia
NCBI Taxonomy ID
is Taxon A an Infraspecies?
No
Taxon B
Common Name
-
Synonyms
Petunia exserta Stehmann, 1987
Rank
species
Lineage
Show more ... tina; Embryophyta; Tracheophyta; Euphyllophyta; Spermatophyta; Magnoliophyta; Mesangiospermae; eudicotyledons; Gunneridae; Pentapetalae; asterids; lamiids; Solanales; Solanaceae; Petunioideae; Petunia
NCBI Taxonomy ID
is Taxon B an Infraspecies?
No
GENOTYPIC CHANGE
Generic Gene Name
CNL
Synonyms
-
String
-
Sequence Similarities
-
GO - Biological Process
-
GO - Cellular Component
-
UniProtKB
Populus davidiana
GenebankID or UniProtKB
Mutation #1
Presumptive Null
Yes
Molecular Type
Aberration Type
SNP
SNP Coding Change
Nonsense
Molecular Details of the Mutation
nonsense mutation in the fourth exon which is predicted to shorten the protein by 171 amino acids. This leaves the conserved AMP binding intact but both the AMP-dependent synthetase/ligase and peroxisomal targeting domains are truncated or absent
Experimental Evidence
Taxon A Taxon B Position
Codon - - -
Amino-acid - - -
Authors
Amrad A; Moser M; Mandel T; de Vries M; Schuurink RC; Freitas L; Kuhlemeier C
Abstract
The interactions of plants with their pollinators are thought to be a driving force in the evolution of angiosperms. Adaptation to a new pollinator involves coordinated changes in multiple floral traits controlled by multiple genes. Surprisingly, such complex genetic shifts have happened numerous times during evolution. Here we report on the genetic basis of the changes in one such trait, floral scent emission, in the genus Petunia (Solanaceae). The increase in the quantity and complexity of the volatiles during the shift from bee to hawkmoth pollination was due to de novo expression of the genes encoding benzoic acid/salicylic acid carboxyl methyltransferase (BSMT) and benzoyl-CoA:benzylalcohol/2-phenylethanol benzoyltransferase (BPBT) together with moderately increased transcript levels for most enzymes of the phenylpropanoid/benzenoid pathway. Loss of cinnamate-CoA ligase (CNL) function as well as a reduction in the expression of the MYB transcription factor ODO1 explain the loss of scent during the transition from moth to hummingbird pollination. The CNL gene in the hummingbird-adapted species is inactive due to a stop codon, but also appears to have undergone further degradation over time. Therefore, we propose that loss of scent happened relatively early in the transition toward hummingbird pollination, and probably preceded the loss of UV-absorbing flavonols. The discovery that CNL is also involved in the loss of scent during the transition from outcrossing to selfing in Capsella (Brassicaceae) (see the accompanying paper) raises interesting questions about the possible causes of deep evolutionary conservation of the targets of evolutionary change.

Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Additional References
Mutation #2
Presumptive Null
Yes
Molecular Type
Aberration Type
SNP
SNP Coding Change
Nonsynonymous
Molecular Details of the Mutation
two amino acids making up the peroxisomal targeting signal are changed in the P. exserta sequence (ARL to TRI) and are expected to lead to a loss-of function
Experimental Evidence
Taxon A Taxon B Position
Codon - - -
Amino-acid - - -
Authors
Amrad A; Moser M; Mandel T; de Vries M; Schuurink RC; Freitas L; Kuhlemeier C
Abstract
The interactions of plants with their pollinators are thought to be a driving force in the evolution of angiosperms. Adaptation to a new pollinator involves coordinated changes in multiple floral traits controlled by multiple genes. Surprisingly, such complex genetic shifts have happened numerous times during evolution. Here we report on the genetic basis of the changes in one such trait, floral scent emission, in the genus Petunia (Solanaceae). The increase in the quantity and complexity of the volatiles during the shift from bee to hawkmoth pollination was due to de novo expression of the genes encoding benzoic acid/salicylic acid carboxyl methyltransferase (BSMT) and benzoyl-CoA:benzylalcohol/2-phenylethanol benzoyltransferase (BPBT) together with moderately increased transcript levels for most enzymes of the phenylpropanoid/benzenoid pathway. Loss of cinnamate-CoA ligase (CNL) function as well as a reduction in the expression of the MYB transcription factor ODO1 explain the loss of scent during the transition from moth to hummingbird pollination. The CNL gene in the hummingbird-adapted species is inactive due to a stop codon, but also appears to have undergone further degradation over time. Therefore, we propose that loss of scent happened relatively early in the transition toward hummingbird pollination, and probably preceded the loss of UV-absorbing flavonols. The discovery that CNL is also involved in the loss of scent during the transition from outcrossing to selfing in Capsella (Brassicaceae) (see the accompanying paper) raises interesting questions about the possible causes of deep evolutionary conservation of the targets of evolutionary change.

Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Additional References
Mutation #3
Presumptive Null
Yes
Molecular Type
Aberration Type
Molecular Details of the Mutation
analysis of allele-specific expression in hybrids shows that CNL1 expression is highly reduced in P. exserta due to cis-regulatory mutation(s) in CNL1
Experimental Evidence
Authors
Amrad A; Moser M; Mandel T; de Vries M; Schuurink RC; Freitas L; Kuhlemeier C
Abstract
The interactions of plants with their pollinators are thought to be a driving force in the evolution of angiosperms. Adaptation to a new pollinator involves coordinated changes in multiple floral traits controlled by multiple genes. Surprisingly, such complex genetic shifts have happened numerous times during evolution. Here we report on the genetic basis of the changes in one such trait, floral scent emission, in the genus Petunia (Solanaceae). The increase in the quantity and complexity of the volatiles during the shift from bee to hawkmoth pollination was due to de novo expression of the genes encoding benzoic acid/salicylic acid carboxyl methyltransferase (BSMT) and benzoyl-CoA:benzylalcohol/2-phenylethanol benzoyltransferase (BPBT) together with moderately increased transcript levels for most enzymes of the phenylpropanoid/benzenoid pathway. Loss of cinnamate-CoA ligase (CNL) function as well as a reduction in the expression of the MYB transcription factor ODO1 explain the loss of scent during the transition from moth to hummingbird pollination. The CNL gene in the hummingbird-adapted species is inactive due to a stop codon, but also appears to have undergone further degradation over time. Therefore, we propose that loss of scent happened relatively early in the transition toward hummingbird pollination, and probably preceded the loss of UV-absorbing flavonols. The discovery that CNL is also involved in the loss of scent during the transition from outcrossing to selfing in Capsella (Brassicaceae) (see the accompanying paper) raises interesting questions about the possible causes of deep evolutionary conservation of the targets of evolutionary change.

Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Additional References
EXTERNAL LINKS
COMMENTS
@SeveralMutationsWithEffect The loss of function of CNL1 abolished methylbenzoate emission - The CNL gene in the hummingbird-adapted species is inactive due to a stop codon but also appears to have undergone further degradation over time. The authors propose that loss of scent happened relatively early in the transition toward hummingbird pollination and probably preceded the loss of UV-absorbing flavonols.
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