Unusual spermine-conjugated hydroxycinnamic acids on pollen: Function and evolutionary advantage

Abstract

Conjugates between polyamines and hydroxycinnamic acids are found on the pollen surface of all higher plants, both mono- and dicots. But we don't know why they are there. Delporte et al. (2018) have now shown that in the tapetum of the Asteraceae (sunflower family) a new type of BAHD-acyltransferase is expressed, able to transfer coenzyme A-activated coumaric acid to all four primary and secondary amine groups of the polyamine spermine. In the case of chicory this sequential addition results in a fully substituted tetracoumaroyl-spermine conjugate and points to an evolutionary advantage of these functionally enigmatic compounds.