Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 4, 2025
Author Spotlight: Harnessing DNA Barcode Technology to Enhance the Efficiency of Medicinal Plant Identification
Published on: November 1, 2024
Investigation of Enzymes in the Phthalide Biosynthetic Pathway in Angelica sinensis Using Integrative Metabolite
Wei-Meng Feng1, Pei Liu1, Hui Yan1
1Jiangsu Key Laboratory for High Technology Research of TCM Formulae, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.
Abstract:
The roots of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels are well known for their efficacy in promoting blood circulation. Although many studies have indicated that phthalides are the main chemical components responsible for the pharmacological properties of A. sinensis, the phthalide biosynthetic pathway and enzymes that transform different phthalides are still poorly understood. We identified 108 potential candidate isoforms for phthalide accumulation using transcriptome and metabolite profile analyses. Then, six enzymes, including phospho-2-dehydro-3-deoxyheptonate aldolase 2, shikimate dehydrogenase, primary amine oxidase, polyphenol oxidase, tyrosine decarboxylase, and shikimate O-hydroxycinnamoyl transferase, were identified and proven to be involved in phthalide accumulation by heterologously expressing these proteins in Escherichia coli. We proposed a possible mechanism underlying phthalide transformation and biosynthetic pathways in A. sinensis based on our findings. The results of our study can provide valuable information for understanding the mechanisms underlying phthalide accumulation and transformation and enable further development of quality control during the cultivation of A. sinensis.
