Cyanogenic glucosides and plant–insect interactions

Abstract

Cyanogenic glucosides are phytoanticipins known to be present in more than 2500 plant species. They are considered to have an important role in plant defense against herbivores due to bitter taste and release of toxic hydrogen cyanide upon tissue disruption. Some specialized herbivores, especially insects, preferentially feed on cyanogenic plants. Such herbivores have acquired the ability to metabolize cyanogenic glucosides or to sequester them for use in their predator defense. A few species of Arthropoda (within Diplopoda, Chilopoda, Insecta) are able to de novo synthesize cyanogenic glucosides and, in addition, some of these species are able to sequester cyanogenic glucosides from their host plant (Zygaenidae). Evolutionary aspects of these unique plant–insect interactions with focus on the enzyme systems involved in synthesis and degradation of cyanogenic glucosides are discussed.