Stilbenes are major defense metabolites in grapevine (Vitis vinifera), which are known for their many pharmacological properties. Taking advantage of the recent sequencing of the grapevine genome, the aim of this work is to characterize genes families involved in stilbene biosynthesis, in order to clarify the role of these defense compounds in the interaction with downy mildew (Plasmopara viticola). The first step of stilbene biosynthesis is catalyzed by stilbene synthase (STS), to yield resveratrol. Our annotation of the STS gene family identified 48 STS genes, including at least 32 potentially functional ones. This unusual expansion of the STS family is original, since it is not found in other stilbene-producing plants. Functional characterization of a selection of STS proteins indicates that all STS genes are likely to encode enzymes with STS activity. Evolutionary analysis of the STS gene family revealed that STS evolution is dominated by purifying selection, with no evidence for neofunctionalization. STS family then represents a unique example a family of more than 30 genes encoding proteins with identical function, and the biological significance of this amplification is discussed. A second important enzyme in stilbene metabolism is resveratrol O-methyltransferase (ROMT), involved in the methylation of resveratrol to yield pterostilbene. This highly fungitoxic compound is believed to play an important role in grapevine defense metabolism. Our analysis of the ROMT family identified 17 genes, two of them only (VvROMT1 and VvROMT2) being involved in pterostilbene biosynthesis. qPCR analyses have shown an induction of the expression of these two genes after an inoculation of P. viticola on grapevine leaves. Two others genes, VvROMT12 and VvROMT13, are constitutively expressed in grapevine roots, and do not seem to respond to stress. Metabolomic analysis on transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana plants expressing these two ROMT genes, together with in vitro enzymatic assays, have been performed in order to determine the function of ROMT12 and ROMT 13. All together, these results show a remarkable amplification of genes involved in stilbene biosynthesis in grapevine. This work paves the way for detailed analyses of the regulation of this important pathway of grapevine defense metabolism.
