Subfunctionalization and epigenetic regulation of a biosynthetic gene cluster in Solanaceae
Biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) describe the agglomeration of genes that contribute to the same biochemical pathway in a genetically linked genomic locus. Such BGCs coordinate the production of specialized metabolites and play an important role in the defensive chemical arsenal of plants and fungi. Here, we report on a BGC in species of the nightshade family that encodes the biosynthesis of withanolides, a group of diverse and multifunctional plant-specialized metabolites that are of interest in the context of plant protection and human health. Using Physalis grisea (ground-cherry) as a model, we show how this BGC is organized into different domains at the chromatin and epigenetic level, and how this organization modulates the specific activity and functionality of the biosynthesis.