De novo transcriptome analysis and comparative expression profiling of genes associated with the taste-modifying protein neoculin in Curculigo latifolia and Curculigo capitulata fruits.

The genetic diversity of neoculin-related genes strongly suggests that neoculin genes underwent duplication during evolution. The marked differences in their expression profiles between C. latifolia and C. capitulata may be due to mutations in regions involved in transcriptional regulation. Comprehensive analysis of the genes expressed in the fruits of these two Curculigo species helped elucidate the origin of neoculin at the molecular level.