An integrative omics perspective for the analysis of chemical signals in ecological interactions

Abstract

All living organisms emit, detect, and respond to chemical stimuli, thus creating an almost limitless number of interactions by means of chemical signals. Technological and intellectual advances in the last two decades have enabled chemical signals analyses at several molecular levels, including gene expression, molecular diversity, and receptor affinity. These advances have also deepened our understanding of nature to encompass interactions at multiple organism levels across different taxa. This tutorial review describes the most recent analytical developments in 'omics' technologies (i.e., genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics) and provide recent examples of its application in studies of chemical signals. We highlight how studies have integrated an enormous amount of information generated from different omics disciplines into one publicly available platform. In addition, we stress the importance of considering different signal modalities and an evolutionary perspective to establish a comprehensive understanding of chemical communication.

Metabolômica De Plantas: Métodos E Desafios

“…Como perspectiva, os próximos anos serão marcados por trabalhos em que a metabolômica será usada de forma integrada às outras abordagens ômicas (genômica, transcriptômica e proteômica), chamada de fusão inter-ômica. 331 No caso de estudos intra-ômicos (uso exclusivo da abordagem metabolômica) prevê-se o desenvolvimento de mecanismos específicos em maior nível de compartimentalização. Estudos em vacúolos, mitocôndrias ou até mesmo células isoladas 332 conduzirá a metabolômica a novos rumos.…”

Marine Bacteria from Rocas Atoll as a Rich Source of Pharmacologically Active Compounds

“…The microbial diversity found in Rocas Atoll may be connected to an equivalent diversity of chemical structures and the dereplication process of crude extracts can assist in addressing this matter in an organized fashion. Thus, we applied herein molecular networking [29] combined with detailed analyses of the gas phase decomposition reactions observed in MS/MS spectra [30]. Also, the emergence and improvement of computational tools, along with public reference libraries, have improved the compound annotation procedure [31].…”

Association of Pollinators of Different Species of Oil Palm with the Metabolic Profiling of Volatile Organic Compounds

“…The aroma of flowers is composed by several volatile organic compounds (VOCs), as the terpenoids, benzenoids, phenylpropanoids (derived from phenylalanine) and the fatty acid derivatives. [18,19] Normally, there is a mixture of compounds and one component may contribute for the influence of other chemical constituents stimulating the receptor performance. [20,21] However, in certain cases, a major constituent can be responsible for the flower odor.…”

“…[22] Furthermore, other factors may also influence the pollination, such as wind, temperature, amount and effectiveness of the pollen, number of male and female inflorescences, the balance and interaction between the female and male flowers, as well as the use of the insecticides. [9,15,18] Therefore, the development of studies on metabolic profiling the emission of the VOCs by oil palm is important and it deserves a special attention regarding its importance to the reproduction success of the plant in its economic role and consequently increasing its production as well. Hence, the aim of this study was to evaluate the VOCs from different oil palm species (African, the Amazonian and the hybrid BRS-Manicoré oil palm) along their association with the pollinators of male and female inflorescences, in order to better understand of the plantÀ insect relationship.…”