Convergent evolution of semiochemicals across Kingdoms: bark beetles and their fungal symbionts. 2019

Tao Zhao, and Suresh Ganji, and Christian Schiebe, and Björn Bohman, and Philip Weinstein, and Paal Krokene, and Anna-Karin Borg-Karlson, and C Rikard Unelius
Department of Chemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Linnaeus University, 382 91, Kalmar, Sweden. tao.zhao@oru.se.

Convergent evolution of semiochemical use in organisms from different Kingdoms is a rarely described phenomenon. Tree-killing bark beetles vector numerous symbiotic blue-stain fungi that help the beetles colonize healthy trees. Here we show for the first time that some of these fungi are able to biosynthesize bicyclic ketals that are pheromones and other semiochemicals of bark beetles. Volatile emissions of five common bark beetle symbionts were investigated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. When grown on fresh Norway spruce bark the fungi emitted three well-known bark beetle aggregation pheromones and semiochemicals (exo-brevicomin, endo-brevicomin and trans-conophthorin) and two structurally related semiochemical candidates (exo-1,3-dimethyl-2,9-dioxabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane and endo-1,3-dimethyl-2,9-dioxabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane) that elicited electroantennogram responses in the spruce bark beetle Ips typographus. When grown on malt agar with 13C D-Glucose, the fungus Grosmannia europhioides incorporated 13C into exo-brevicomin and trans-conophthorin. The enantiomeric compositions of the fungus-produced ketals closely matched those previously reported from bark beetles. The production of structurally complex bark beetle pheromones by symbiotic fungi indicates cross-kingdom convergent evolution of signal use in this system. This signaling is susceptible to disruption, providing potential new targets for pest control in conifer forests and plantations.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D010675 Pheromones Chemical substances, excreted by an organism into the environment, that elicit behavioral or physiological responses from other organisms of the same species. Perception of these chemical signals may be olfactory or by contact. Allelochemical,Allelochemicals,Allomone,Allomones,Ectohormones,Kairomone,Kairomones,Pheromone,Semiochemical,Semiochemicals,Synomones
D005075 Biological Evolution The process of cumulative change over successive generations through which organisms acquire their distinguishing morphological and physiological characteristics. Evolution, Biological
D005658 Fungi A kingdom of eukaryotic, heterotrophic organisms that live parasitically as saprobes, including MUSHROOMS; YEASTS; smuts, molds, etc. They reproduce either sexually or asexually, and have life cycles that range from simple to complex. Filamentous fungi, commonly known as molds, refer to those that grow as multicellular colonies. Fungi, Filamentous,Molds,Filamentous Fungi,Filamentous Fungus,Fungus,Fungus, Filamentous,Mold
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001517 Coleoptera Order of winged insects also known as beetles comprising over 350,000 species in 150 families. They possess hard bodies with mouthparts adapted for chewing. Beetles,Beetle
D013559 Symbiosis The relationship between two different species of organisms that are interdependent; each gains benefits from the other or a relationship between different species where both of the organisms in question benefit from the presence of the other. Endosymbiosis,Commensalism,Mutualism
D014197 Trees Woody, usually tall, perennial higher plants (Angiosperms, Gymnosperms, and some Pterophyta) having usually a main stem and numerous branches. Tree
D019086 Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic Heterocyclic compounds that contain two rings that share two non-adjacent atoms in common. Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic,Heterocyclic Cpds, Bicyclic,Bicyclic Heterocyclic Compounds,Heterocyclic Bicyclo Compounds,Bicyclic Heterocyclic Cpds,Heterocyclic Compounds, Bicyclic
D024301 Plant Bark The outer layer of the woody parts of plants. Bark, Plant,Bark, Tree,Tree Bark,Barks, Plant,Barks, Tree,Plant Barks,Tree Barks
D028222 Picea A plant genus in the family PINACEAE, order Pinales, class Pinopsida, division Coniferophyta. They are evergreen, pyramidal trees with whorled branches and thin, scaly bark. Each of the linear, spirally arranged leaves are joined near the stem on a separate woody base. Spruce Tree,Piceas,Spruce Trees,Tree, Spruce,Trees, Spruce

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