Integrative analysis of CAM photosynthesis reveals its impact on primary metabolism in Yucca.

CAM evolution in Yucca causes widespread metabolic shifts, especially in nitrogen metabolism, with minimal correlation between mRNA and protein levels across species.

• Why it matters: Understanding how CAM impacts primary metabolism is crucial for revealing its regulatory complexity and evolutionary advantages, which are not fully explained by transcriptomic data alone.
• What they did: The study integrated transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic data from Yucca aloifolia and Y. filamentosa, comparing their metabolic profiles and gene expression patterns.
• The result: Findings show significant post-transcriptional regulation and cascading effects on primary metabolism, providing new insights into the metabolic adaptations and regulation underlying CAM evolution.