Structural diversity, biosynthesis, and function of plant falcarin-type polyacetylenic lipids

Patrícia Santos, Lucas Busta, Won Cheol Yim, Edgar B. Cahoon, Dylan K. Kosma

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

The polyacetylenic lipids falcarinol, falcarindiol, and associated derivatives, termed falcarins, have a widespread taxonomical distribution in the plant kingdom and have received increasing interest for their demonstrated health-promoting properties as anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory agents. These fatty acid-derived compounds are also linked to plant pathogen resistance through their potent antimicrobial properties. Falcarin-type polyacetylenes, which contain two conjugated triple bonds, are derived from structural modifications of the common fatty acid oleic acid. In the past half century, much progress has been made in understanding the structural diversity of falcarins in the plant kingdom, whereas limited progress has been made on elucidating falcarin function in plant-pathogen interactions. More recently, an understanding of the biosynthetic machinery underlying falcarin biosynthesis has emerged. This review provides a concise summary of the current state of knowledge on falcarin structural diversity, biosynthesis, and plant defense properties. We also present major unanswered questions about falcarin biosynthesis and function.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2889-2904
Number of pages16
JournalJournal of experimental botany
Volume73
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - May 13 2022

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Research on falcarins in the Santos lab is supported by USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Hatch NEV00387 project 1016205 Multistate NC-1203.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology. All rights reserved.

Keywords

  • Acetylenase
  • CYP450
  • FAD2
  • decarbonylase
  • falcarin
  • fatty acid
  • necrotrophic fungi
  • plant defense responses
  • plant pathogen
  • polyacetylene

PubMed: MeSH publication types

  • Journal Article
  • Review
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

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