title: Evolution of isoprene emission capacity in plants.
abstract: Light-dependent de novo volatile isoprene emission by terrestrial plants (approximately 2% of carbon fixed during photosynthesis) contributes as much as 0.5 PgC/year to the global carbon cycle. Although most plant taxa exhibit either constitutive or inducible monoterpene emissions, the evolution of isoprene emission capacity in multiple lineages has remained unexplained. Based on the predominant occurrence of isoprene emission capacity in long-lived, fast-growing woody plants; the relationship between 'metabolic scope' of tree genera and their species richness; and the proposed role of high growth rates and long generation times in accelerating molecular evolution, we hypothesise that long-lived plant genera with inherently high speciation rates have repeatedly acquired and lost the capacity to emit isoprene in their evolutionary history.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia; Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia.
authors.forename: K G Srikanta
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Dani
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia.
authors.forename: Ian M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Jamie
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia; Grantham Institute for Climate Change, and Division of Biology, Imperial College London, Silwood Park, Ascot SL5 7PY, UK.
authors.forename: I Colin
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Prentice
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia. Electronic address: brian.atwell@mq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Brian J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Atwell
mesh_terms: D002070:Butadienes / Q000378:metabolism*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D045782:Hemiterpenes / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008027:Light; D010420:Pentanes / Q000378:metabolism*; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000528:radiation effects; D013696:Temperature; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002070:Butadienes; D045782:Hemiterpenes; D010420:Pentanes; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds; C005059:isoprene; D002245:Carbon Dioxide