Acylsugar

Acylsugars are a group of plant-derived protective secondary metabolites that lack nitrogen. They typically consist of aliphatic acyl groups of low to medium chain lengths esterified to the hydroxyl groups of glucose or sucrose. Presence of such acyl groups gives these compounds hydrophobic properties. This group of compounds has been extensively studied in tomato and related species, in which these compounds are produced and secreted in sporadic amounts from trichomes on the plant leaf and stem surface.[1] Production of copious quantities of these acylsugars give a sticky feel to the plant tissue. In particular, this flower has shown to distract herbivorous insect pests against thrips damage. It is believed that acylsugars provide physical and/or chemical defense to the plant.

Acylsugars are nonvolatile and viscous polyesters that consist of acyl chains on sucrose or glucose backbones. These attached acid chains may vary in length from short to medium which affects the phenotypic characteristics of the plant. Other factors that may affect plant phenotype includes the presence of either glucose or sucrose, the number of acyl chains as well as the total amounts of acyl sugars.

Distribution

Acylsugars are produced in the secretory glandular trichomes of various plants, specifically those that belong to the family Solanaceae. These compounds are identified to be responsible for physical and/or chemical defense plant defense. Additionally, potential commercial applications were also found in these compounds.

Some species that are known to produce acylsugars include Solanum lycopersicum, Solanum pennellii, Solanum habrochaites, Nicotiana benthamiana, Petunia axillaris and Petunia integrifolia.

Functions

Functions of acylsugars have been the subject of many researches. For instance, acylsugars in Solanum pennellii discourage ovipositor or insects and pests to lay eggs and contain toxins to lure out herbivores. A study showed that this natural insect-repellant property may lead to the breeding and development of thrips-resistant tomato which could be of commercial benefit.[2] Additionally, acylsugars from other genera were also found to render protection against herbivores and plant pathogens.[3]

Molecules of acylsugars are also classified as an amphiphile which helps in providing a supplementary source of water in plants through the reduction of the surface tension of the absorbed dew.[3]

Acylsugars also exhibit commercial benefits including pesticides, food additives, cosmetics and personal care products, anti-biotics, and anti-inflammatory medications. Because of this, acylsugars have been the focus of studies aiming to discover successful breeding crop techniques and synthetic methods of metabolizing acylsugars.[3]

See also

References
  1. Gonzales-Vigil, E.; Kim, K. K.; Shi, F.; Jones, D.; Barry, C.; Last, R. (December 2012). "Striking natural diversity in glandular trichome acylsugar composition is shaped by variation at acyltransferase2 locus in the wild tomato Solanum habrochaites". Plant Physiology. 160 (2012): 1854–1870. doi:10.1104/pp.112.204735. PMC 3510116. PMID 23054567.
  2. D'Ambrosio, D. A.; Mutschler, M.; Walgenbach, J.; Kennedy, G. (November 2013). "The effect of acylsugars of the wild tomato Solanum pennellii on the oviposition behaviour of western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) and tobacco thrips (Frankliniella fusca)". Research Gate.
  3. Kim, K. K.; Ji, W. M.; McKnight, T. (April 2018). "Candidate gene network for acylsugar metabolism and plant defense in wild tomato Solanum pennellii". Plant Physiology. 160 (2012): 1854–1870. doi:10.1104/pp.112.204735. PMC 3510116. PMID 23054567.
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