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Reposted by Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology

Maite Colinas @maitecolinas.bsky.social · 5d

Very exciting to finally see our iridoid cyclase ICYC online @natplants.nature.com!
A joined effort with Robin Buell’s lab with Josh Wood generating snRNA-seq, and my student Chloée Tymen performing the initial experiment.
#natprod
#PlantScience
@mpi-ce.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Discovery of iridoid cyclase completes the iridoid pathway in asterids - Nature Plants

Iridoids are terpenoid metabolites found in thousands of plants. Using single-cell transcriptomics, the authors discovered an unexpected enzyme that has been neofunctionalized to catalyse the cyclization required to form the iridoid scaffold.

www.nature.com

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Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology @mpi-ce.bsky.social · 5d

Missing piece of the puzzle for the formation of iridoids found! @maitecolinas.bsky.social from the @oconnorlab.bsky.social et al. have identified the enzyme responsible for iridoid biosynthesis—the key to natural products with medicinal potential. www.ice.mpg.de/512932/PR_Co...

Final step in the biosynthesis of iridoids elucidated

Until now, a crucial step in the biosynthesis of iridoids, a class of plant defense substances that are also medically relevant, had remained undiscovered. A team from the Max Planck Institute for Che...

www.ice.mpg.de

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Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology @mpi-ce.bsky.social · 12d

New study in @science.org reveals why some animals display striking colors to warn predators while others use camouflage. Our former group leader @hannahmrowland.bsky.social, now @livuni-ives.bsky.social was part of the global project on the evolution of animal colors. www.ice.mpg.de/511966/PR_Me...

Warning colour or camouflage: Why some animals shine bright and others disappear in plain sight

A global study explores why some animals use bright warning colors while others rely on camouflage for predator evasion. Findings reveal that predator competition and habitat influence these strategie...

www.ice.mpg.de

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Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology @mpi-ce.bsky.social · 15d

A recipe from two eras for protection against bark beetles: Andrew O’Donnell et al. show in PNAS that some resin diterpenes are older than conifers themselves, while others developed independently—presumably to protect against bark beetles. www.ice.mpg.de/510162/PR_OD...

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Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology @mpi-ce.bsky.social · 16d

HUGE congratulations also to Jessil Pajar on successfully defending her PhD thesis! 🎓 Her research, supervised by @nmvandam.bsky.social, explores novel strategies to strengthen plant resistance against a major pest, drawing innovative insights from interactions with microscopic nematodes.

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Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology @mpi-ce.bsky.social · 16d

We are proud to announce that Sol Yepes has successfully defended her PhD thesis on intraspecific chemodiversity in Black Poplar supervised by @sunsicker.bsky.social. Her work advances our understanding of plant diversity as a foundation for ecosystem resilience. Congratulations!

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Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology @mpi-ce.bsky.social · Aug 19

Featured on NPR: @shabmohammadi.bsky.social and her team study how predators adapted to toxic substances to safely consume toxic prey. Humans have used these toxins for thousands of years, even prescribing them to treat heart failure. Listen to the whole story: www.npr.org/2025/08/19/n...

Toxicity is a good defense, until it isn't : Short Wave

Imagine, you’re a toxic toad hanging around South America. No other animals are gonna mess with you, right? After all, you’re ~toxic~! So if anyone tries to eat you, they’ll be exposed to something ca...

www.npr.org

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Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology @mpi-ce.bsky.social · Aug 14

Researchers from the @kaltenpoth-lab.bsky.social show in @emboreports.org ‬that despite having only a tiny genome, the symbionts of reed beetles can adapt their gene activity flexibly to the developmental stages and ambient temperatures of their hosts. www.ice.mpg.de/509125/PR_Ca...

Reduced genome – flexible performance: How symbiotic bacteria with minimal genetic information provide optimal support to their hosts

Symbiotic bacteria that live permanently with a host and are connected to its metabolism lose many genes over the course of evolution that are no longer required. A research team at the Max Planck Ins...

www.ice.mpg.de

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Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology @mpi-ce.bsky.social · Aug 1

Meet our director Sarah O'Connor, @oconnorlab.bsky.social, a presence to be reckoned with in the plant science community! Read the latest interview with @newphyt.bsky.social ‬to learn about her passion for plant science and the scientists who inspired her:
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

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Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology @mpi-ce.bsky.social · Jul 24

This is Ahmed Ismaieel, a PhD candidate in our IMPRS who studies moths in the windtunnel. His research into the ability of moths to 'smell' is providing new insights into the intricate relationships between insects and their environments. Read about his journey & more: www.ice.mpg.de/257126/newsl...

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Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology @mpi-ce.bsky.social · Jul 23

Hala Sardouk, a PhD candidate in @shabmohammadi.bsky.social's group, is exploring how organisms adapt to environmental toxins at the molecular level, shedding light on the complex interactions between organisms & their environments. More about her journey & our IMPRS: www.ice.mpg.de/257126/newsl...

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Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology @mpi-ce.bsky.social · Jul 22

Discovering the perfect PhD fit! Iulia Barutia shares her journey to finding our IMPRS program, where she's thriving with a supportive community & access to top resources. Don't give up on your academic dreams! Read about her journey & more: www.ice.mpg.de/257126/newsl...

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Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology @mpi-ce.bsky.social · Jul 21

Meet Johann de Beer, a doctoral researcher studying the symbiotic relationship between Lagria beetles & bacteria in the @kaltenpoth-lab.bsky.social‬. His research explores how beneficial bacteria colonize & defend their hosts. Read more about his journey & more: www.ice.mpg.de/257126/newsl...

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Reposted by Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology

Nature Chemical Biology @natchembio.nature.com · Jul 16

Here, the authors @oconnorlab.bsky.social @mpi-ce.bsky.social uncover the mechanism of epimerization behind uncommon 3R-containing alkaloids in Mitragyna speciosa (Kratom) and study their inclusion in downstream biosynthesis #PlantScience #natprod

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Enzymatic epimerization of monoterpene indole alkaloids in kratom - Nature Chemical Biology

Monoterpene indole alkaloids are formed via a 3S stereoselective condensation between secologanin and tryptamine. Here the authors uncover the mechanism of epimerization behind uncommon 3R-containing ...

www.nature.com

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Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology @mpi-ce.bsky.social · Jul 21

We are happy to announce that Ling Chuang from the @oconnorlab.bsky.social is one of the awardees of the Best Paper Award from the Wilhelm Pfeffer Foundation. Congratulations to her and the other awardees Sara Leite Dias, a member of the @drsativa.bsky.social lab and our IMPRS, and Shanyu Liu.

German Society for Plant Sciences (DBG) @plantsciencedbg.bsky.social · Jul 21

The president of the awarding DBG foundation, Prof. Severin Sasso, summarises its potential for applications in plant #breeding and #agriculture

www.deutsche-botanische-gesellschaft.de/u/2025BestPa...

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Actualia (2025) - Notifications of the Society

Notifications from our Society (Deutsche Botanische Gesellschaft, DBG) for its members (2025)

www.deutsche-botanische-gesellschaft.de

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Reposted by Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology

German Society for Plant Sciences (DBG) @plantsciencedbg.bsky.social · Jul 21

@science.org paper: doi.org/10.1126/scie...
@drsativa.bsky.social ( @leibnizipk.bsky.social ), @frankelab.bsky.social ‬ ( @unihannover.bsky.social ), and @mpi-ce.bsky.social

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Biosynthesis of the allelopathic alkaloid gramine in barley by a cryptic oxidative rearrangement

The elusive gene required for the production of the defensive alkaloid gramine in barley hs been discovered.

doi.org

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Reposted by Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology

Leibniz-HKI @leibniz-hki.de · Jun 30

🤓New insights into biomass utilization: Researchers at @leibniz-hki.de and @mpi-ce.bsky.social I-CE have decoded the structure of the 🟡"Yellow Affinity Substance" from A. thermocellus, a pigment that binds cellulose and could boost biofuel production and antibiotic research.
#biotech #research #ERC

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Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology @mpi-ce.bsky.social · Jul 4

Today is last day of the ICE-2025 International Chemical Ecology PhD course at our institute. For 2 weeks, 28 doctoral researchers from all over Europe, the US, and Canada studied plant-insect-microbe interactions, evolutionary processes, advanced methods, and even chemical communication in humans.

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Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology @mpi-ce.bsky.social · Jun 26

Lead author @matildeflorean.bsky.social‬ et al. from the @oconnorlab.bsky.social discover a "fake" enzyme in plants that enables the formation of free indole, a key molecule for defense & attracting pollinators.
www.ice.mpg.de/496511/PR_Fl...

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Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology @mpi-ce.bsky.social · Jun 24

Scientists from our Department of Biochemistry show that spruce trees use a mixture of chemicals to combat bark beetles & fungi. New study in Functional Ecology confirms that plant defense is made more efficient by synergy effects AND the use of pest-specific defenses.
www.ice.mpg.de/496050/PR_Za...

Norway spruce trees produce a mixture of substances as protection against insects and fungal infestation

Norway spruce trees produce various monoterpenes to protect against insects and fungal infestation. Mixtures of monoterpenes have been shown to be more effective than single monoterpenes against bark ...

www.ice.mpg.de

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Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology @mpi-ce.bsky.social · Jun 3

Researchers led by @maitecolinas.bsky.social from @oconnorlab.bsky.social ‬study the biosynthesis of ipecacuanha alkaloids. They report in @natchembio.nature.com ‬that two distantly related plants use similar approaches, but different enzymes and starting materials, to produce the same substance.

Two plant species invent the same chemically complex and medically interesting substance

The biosynthesis of the great variety of natural plant products has not yet been elucidated for many medically interesting substances. In a new study, an international team of researchers was able to ...

www.ice.mpg.de

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Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology @mpi-ce.bsky.social · May 26

Congratulations to Matilde Florean from the Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis on successfully defending her PhD thesis on the "Mechanisms Underlying the Repeated Evolution of Metabolic Pathways in Plants!" So proud of her achievements! We look forward to her future contributions to science!

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Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology @mpi-ce.bsky.social · May 22

The MPI-CE team had an incredible time participating in this year's Firmenlauf charity run! The event was not just about running 5 km, but also about the spirit of collaboration and giving back to the community. Thank you to everyone who joined us and to those who supported us along the way!

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Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology @mpi-ce.bsky.social · May 13

Big congrats to Rolando Moreira Soto from the Department of Evolutionary Neuroethology on defending his PhD! His research on Drosophila oviposition shows females often lay eggs together, benefiting from social feeding despite risks like competition. A fascinating insight into insect decision-making!

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Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology @mpi-ce.bsky.social · May 8

Congratulations to Melissa Diaz Morales for successfully defending her PhD thesis on the "Evolution of sex-pheromone receptors in Drosophila" supervised by Nicole van Dam, Markus Knaden and Bill Hansson! 👏 🎓 💐

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