Multi-omics of the nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) and the parallel evolution of the erucic acid biosynthesis in angiosperms.

Nine KCS genes are actively involved in erucic acid biosynthesis in nasturtium seeds, with three confirmed through functional validation, revealing key enzymes in the process.

• Why it matters: Understanding the genetic basis of erucic acid production is crucial for industrial applications and offers insights into how plants evolve specialized metabolic pathways.
• What they did: Using a newly assembled chromosome-level genome, researchers identified and profiled 25 KCS genes, validated three candidates via yeast transformation, and analyzed their expression during seed development.
• The result: Findings show that gene duplication events have driven KCS family expansion, enabling independent evolution of erucic acid biosynthesis across angiosperms, illustrating a common metabolic strategy.