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Multiple mutations in polyketide synthase led to disruption of Psittacofulvin production across diverse parrot species

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Ghosh Roy, Shatadru, Brejcha, Jindřich, Maršík, Petr, Bakhrat, Anna, Abdu, Moty, Arbore, Roberto, Araújo, Pedro Miguel, Afonso, Sandra, Carneiro, Miguel, Grossman-Haham, Iris, Abdu, Uri·2025·Communications Biology
DOI 10.1038/s42003-025-07537-7PMC PMC11739604

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Abstract

Abstract Polyketide synthases (PKSs) are crucial multidomain enzymes in diverse natural product biosynthesis. Parrots use a type I PKS to produce a unique pigment called psittacofulvin in their feathers. In domesticated budgerigars and lovebirds, the same amino acid substitution (R644W) within malonyl/acetyltransferase (MAT) domain of this enzyme has been shown to cause the blue phenotype with no psittacofulvin pigmentation, proposing a strong evolutionary constraint mechanism. Here, we identified six new causal variants in PKS associated with defective psittacofulvin production in four diverse species, including three nonsense mutations. Remaining three nonsynonymous substitutions reside within the ketoacyl synthase (KS) domain. Heterologous expression of these PKS variants in yeast confirmed complete or reduced loss of psittacofulvin production, additionally suggesting presence of an auxiliary polymorphism at the MAT domain. Our findings establish PKS as a functionally conserved key-enzyme determining psittacofulvin-based hues among diverse parrots, highlighting multiple conserved domains essential for the PKS function.

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Metadata

Authors
Ghosh Roy, S., Brejcha, J., Maršík, P., Bakhrat, A., Abdu, M., Arbore, R., Araújo, P. M., Afonso, S., Carneiro, M., Grossman-Haham, I., & Abdu, U.
Affiliations
  • Charles University (CZ)
  • Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (CZ)
  • Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (IL)
  • Universidade do Porto (PT)
Corresponding author
Abdu, Uri
ORCID
Venue
Communications Biology
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2025-01-17
Volume
8
Issue
1
Pages
69-69
ISSN
2399-3642 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1038/s42003-025-07537-7
PMC
PMC11739604
OpenAlex
W4406446488
Cited by
1
References
2
Citations by year
2026: 1
FWCI
0.50
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Communications Biology (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Research Square (acceptedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
Israel Science Foundation (941/21)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › melanin and skin pigmentation
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Biotechnology › Microbial Metabolism and Applications
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology › Microbial Natural Products and Biosynthesis
Keywords
polyketide synthase, parrots, feather pigmentation, budgerigars, lovebirds, nonsense mutation, nonsynonymous substitutions, heterologous expression in yeast, natural product biosynthesis, evolutionary constraints
MeSH terms
Animals, Feathers, Mutation, Parrots, Pigmentation, Pigments, Biological, Polyketide Synthases

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