title: Biosynthesis and accumulation of ergoline alkaloids in a mutualistic association between Ipomoea asarifolia (Convolvulaceae) and a clavicipitalean fungus.
abstract: Ergoline alkaloids occur in taxonomically unrelated taxa, such as fungi, belonging to the phylum Ascomycetes and higher plants of the family Convolvulaceae. The disjointed occurrence can be explained by the observation that plant-associated epibiotic clavicipitalean fungi capable of synthesizing ergoline alkaloids colonize the adaxial leaf surface of certain Convolvulaceae plant species. The fungi are seed transmitted. Their capacity to synthesize ergoline alkaloids depends on the presence of an intact differentiated host plant (e.g. Ipomoea asarifolia or Turbina corymbosa [Convolvulaceae]). Here, we present independent proof that these fungi are equipped with genetic material responsible for ergoline alkaloid biosynthesis. The gene (dmaW) for the determinant step in ergoline alkaloid biosynthesis was shown to be part of a cluster involved in ergoline alkaloid formation. The dmaW gene was overexpressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the encoded DmaW protein purified to homogeneity, and characterized. Neither the gene nor the biosynthetic capacity, however, was detectable in the intact I. asarifolia or the taxonomically related T. corymbosa host plants. Both plants, however, contained the ergoline alkaloids almost exclusively, whereas alkaloids are not detectable in the associated epibiotic fungi. This indicates that a transport system may exist translocating the alkaloids from the epibiotic fungus into the plant. The association between the fungus and the plant very likely is a symbiotum in which ergoline alkaloids play an essential role.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Pharmazeutische Biologie, D-53115 Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Markert
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Steffan
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ploss
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hellwig
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Steiner
authors.forename: Christel
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Drewke
authors.forename: Shu-Ming
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wilhelm
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Boland
authors.forename: Eckhard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Leistner
mesh_terms: D019883:Alkyl and Aryl Transferases / Q000235:genetics*; D002967:Claviceps / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004873:Ergolines / Q000378:metabolism*; D027741:Ipomoea / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000502:physiology; D025282:Mycelium / Q000378:metabolism; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000378:metabolism; D013559:Symbiosis
chemical_list: D004873:Ergolines; D019883:Alkyl and Aryl Transferases; C032409:tryptophan dimethylallyltransferase