Martínez Rodríguez, PedroGuerrero Rubio, María AlejandraHenarejos Escudero, PaulaHernández García, SamantaGandía Herrero, Fernando2026-07-232026-07-232026Martínez-Rodríguez, P., Guerrero-Rubio, M. A., Henarejos-Escudero, P., Hernández-García, S., & Gandía-Herrero, F. (2026). A functional betalain-producing dioxygenase in Neolecta irregularis reveals an expanded evolutionary origin of the pathway. IMA Fungus, 17, e184549. https://doi.org/10.3897/imafungus.17.1845492210-63402210-6359https://hdl.handle.net/11268/17306Betalains 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.engAttribution 4.0 Internationalhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Fisioterapiajournal article10.3897/imafungus.17.184549open accessBioquímicaFitoquímicaHongoGoal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages