The bitter truth : how insects cope with toxic plant alkaloids
© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprintsoup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink serv...
| Publié dans: | Journal of experimental botany. - 1985. - 76(2025), 1 vom: 01. Jan., Seite 5-15 |
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| Auteur principal: | |
| Autres auteurs: | |
| Format: | Article en ligne |
| Langue: | English |
| Publié: |
2025
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| Accès à la collection: | Journal of experimental botany |
| Sujets: | Journal Article Review Alkaloids behavioral avoidance coevolution detoxification insects physiological adaptation |
| Résumé: | © The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprintsoup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com. Plants are unique organisms that have developed ingenious strategies to cope with environmental challenges, such as herbivorous insects. One of these strategies is the synthesis of a vast array of chemical compounds, known as specialized metabolites, that serve many ecological functions. Among the most fascinating and diverse groups of specialized metabolites are the alkaloids, which are characterized by the presence of a nitrogen atom within a heterocyclic ring. While some have medicinal and recreational applications, others are highly unpalatable and/or toxic. The effects of alkaloids on both humans and insects can be very diverse, affecting their physiology and behavior. Insects that feed on alkaloid-containing plants have evolved various mechanisms to cope with the consequences of these toxins. These include sequestration, where insects store alkaloids in specialized tissues or organs, enzymatic detoxification through enzymes such as cytochrome P450 monooxygenases and glutathione S-transferases, and behavioral adaptations such as selective feeding. In this review, we explore the relationships between plant alkaloids and the evolutionary adaptations that enable insects to exploit alkaloid-rich plants as food sources and ecological niches minimizing the harmful effects of these natural compounds. We aim to provide a comprehensive and updated overview of this fascinating and complex ecological interaction |
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| Description: | Date Completed 20.12.2024 Date Revised 20.12.2024 published: Print Citation Status MEDLINE |
| ISSN: | 1460-2431 |
| DOI: | 10.1093/jxb/erae312 |