title: A gain-of-function polymorphism controlling complex traits and fitness in nature.
abstract: Identification of the causal genes that control complex trait variation remains challenging, limiting our appreciation of the evolutionary processes that influence polymorphisms in nature. We cloned a quantitative trait locus that controls plant defensive chemistry, damage by insect herbivores, survival, and reproduction in the natural environments where this polymorphism evolved. These ecological effects are driven by duplications in the BCMA (branched-chain methionine allocation) loci controlling this variation and by two selectively favored amino acid changes in the glucosinolate-biosynthetic cytochrome P450 proteins that they encode. These changes cause a gain of novel enzyme function, modulated by allelic differences in catalytic rate and gene copy number. Ecological interactions in diverse environments likely contribute to the widespread polymorphism of this biochemical function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Institute for Genome Sciences and Policy, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
authors.forename: Kasavajhala V S K
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Prasad
authors.forename: Bao-Hua
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Carrie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Olson-Manning
authors.forename: Jill T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Cheng-Ruei
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: M Eric
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Schranz
authors.forename: Aaron J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Windsor
authors.forename: Maria J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Clauss
authors.forename: Antonio J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Manzaneda
authors.forename: Ibtehaj
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Naqvi
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reichelt
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gershenzon
authors.forename: Sanjeewa G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Rupasinghe
authors.forename: Mary A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Schuler
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mitchell-Olds
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology; D019607:Brassicaceae / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000235:genetics*; D018628:Gene Dosage; D059647:Gene-Environment Interaction; D005961:Glucosinolates / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D060434:Herbivory / Q000502:physiology; D008715:Methionine / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D040641:Quantitative Trait Loci; D019655:Quantitative Trait, Heritable; D012641:Selection, Genetic
chemical_list: D005961:Glucosinolates; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D008715:Methionine