Convergent routes to haloterpenoid biosynthesis in red algae: identification of non-canonical UbiA-type terpene synthase gene clusters in the genus Laurencia

Two red algal UbiA-type terpene synthases, LsUTS-2 and LpUTS-2 from Laurencia pacifica and Laurencia subopposita, produce sesquiterpene bisabolene in Nicotiana benthamiana.

• Why it matters: Many core terpene scaffolds in red algal haloterpenoids lack identified enzymes, leaving a biosynthetic gap—especially for bisabolene, which is not made by established red algal class I terpene synthases.
• What they did: The study prioritized UbiA candidates near putative biosynthetic genes and identified eight candidate gene clusters across the two Laurencia species, then tested UbiA function in the heterologous host Nicotiana benthamiana.
• The result: Phylogenetic analyses separate red algal UbiA-type terpene synthases from canonical UbiA prenyltransferases of primary metabolism, suggesting acquisition outside the red algal lineage and enabling a new route to red algal terpene scaffolds.

AI summary of the abstract · may contain errors · not medical advice · read the paper.