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A new study on the titan arum, commonly known as the corpse flower due to its distinctive smell reminiscent of rotting flesh, has uncovered the fundamental genetic pathways responsible for this odor.
Genetic Analysis:
Researchers collected tissue samples from Morphy, Dartmouth's 21-year-old corpse flower, during several blooms to perform genetic and chemical analysis. This allowed them to determine which genes are expressed and active when the plant heats up and produces the odor.
Thermogenesis:
The study found that thermogenesis, or the ability to generate heat, is rare in plants but common in animals. The plant's ability to heat up is linked to the expression of genes associated with alternative oxidases, which are plant counterparts of uncoupling proteins found in animals.
Sulfur Transport and Metabolism:
Genes involved in sulfur transport and metabolism were also active during flowering. The RNA analysis revealed higher expression of these genes, particularly in the appendix of the plant.
Amino Acid Detection:
Using mass spectrometry, the team detected high levels of methionine, a sulfur-containing amino acid that vaporizes easily upon heating, producing pungent odors. They also found elevated levels of another amino acid, putrescine, which is an odorant found in dead animals when they begin to rot.
Molecular Basis:
This study is the first to unravel the secrets of the corpse flower's stink at a molecular level and determine the processes by which the titan arum regulates temperature. It also identified the roles played by different parts of the flowering cluster in creating the carrion cologne that draws pollinators.
Future Research:
The study's findings suggest that Morphy holds more mysteries, particularly regarding the triggers that foretell flowering and whether specimens housed together might synchronize blooms to collectively raise the odor level to draw even more pollinators.
Genetic Analysis:
Researchers collected tissue samples from Morphy, Dartmouth's 21-year-old corpse flower, during several blooms to perform genetic and chemical analysis. This allowed them to determine which genes are expressed and active when the plant heats up and produces the odor.
Thermogenesis:
The study found that thermogenesis, or the ability to generate heat, is rare in plants but common in animals. The plant's ability to heat up is linked to the expression of genes associated with alternative oxidases, which are plant counterparts of uncoupling proteins found in animals.
Sulfur Transport and Metabolism:
Genes involved in sulfur transport and metabolism were also active during flowering. The RNA analysis revealed higher expression of these genes, particularly in the appendix of the plant.
Amino Acid Detection:
Using mass spectrometry, the team detected high levels of methionine, a sulfur-containing amino acid that vaporizes easily upon heating, producing pungent odors. They also found elevated levels of another amino acid, putrescine, which is an odorant found in dead animals when they begin to rot.
Molecular Basis:
This study is the first to unravel the secrets of the corpse flower's stink at a molecular level and determine the processes by which the titan arum regulates temperature. It also identified the roles played by different parts of the flowering cluster in creating the carrion cologne that draws pollinators.
Future Research:
The study's findings suggest that Morphy holds more mysteries, particularly regarding the triggers that foretell flowering and whether specimens housed together might synchronize blooms to collectively raise the odor level to draw even more pollinators.
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