A functional betalain-producing dioxygenase in Neolecta irregularis reveals an expanded evolutionary origin of the pathway

Abstract

Betalains are nitrogen-containing pigments with important biological, ecological, and biotechnological roles, yet their biosynthesis has been described almost exclusively in plants of the order Caryophyllales and in a few fungal and bacterial lineages. The early-diverging ascomycete Neolecta irregularis, considered a morphological and genomic “living fossil”, offers a unique opportunity to explore the evolutionary origins of this pathway. This study combines pigment analysis, gene expression profiling, and biochemical characterization to investigate the betalain-forming potential of this species.