Glycosyl hydrolase family 32 gene expression patterns and fructan metabolism show direct correlation with the CAM cycle in Agave tequilana

Around 15% of angiosperms synthesize fructans as storage carbohydrates, yet only a few species combine fructan metabolism with crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM). This metabolic combination has enabled agave species to thrive under extreme environmental conditions such as high temperatures and limited water availability. The increasing availability of transcriptomic and genomic resources has positioned agaves as an attractive model to explore potential coordination between these metabolic pathways. In this study, we analyzed the leaf transcriptome of A. tequilana under light and dark conditions to investigate the relationship between CAM-associated genes and fructan metabolism. Our findings support the existence of coordinated regulatory mechanisms linking fructan metabolism with the CAM cycle.