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Comparative Transcriptome Analysis of Pueraria lobata Provides Candidate Genes Involved in Puerarin Biosynthesis and
Huiting Xi1, Yaru Zhu1,2, Wenwen Sun1
1Shanghai Key Laboratory of Bio-Energy Crops, Research Center for Natural Products, Plant Science Center, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China.
Biomolecules
|January 21, 2023
Summary
This study investigates puerarin biosynthesis in Pueraria lobata, identifying root and stem tissues as key sites. It proposes candidate C-glucosyltransferases and MYB transcription factors regulating this important medicinal compound.
Area of Science:
- Plant biochemistry
- Metabolic engineering
- Traditional Chinese medicine
Background:
- Pueraria lobata is a traditional Chinese herb valued for its medicinal properties, primarily due to the isoflavone puerarin.
- The biosynthesis pathway of puerarin, particularly the C-glucosyl reaction, and its regulatory transcription factors (TFs) in P. lobata remain largely unelucidated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the primary tissues responsible for puerarin biosynthesis in P. lobata.
- To discover candidate genes, including C-glucosyltransferases (C-GTs) and MYB transcription factors, involved in regulating puerarin production.
Main Methods:
- Phytochemical analysis of P. lobata tissues (root, stem, leaf) across developmental stages.
- RNA sequencing of root and stem tissues from two P. lobata cultivars.
- Bioinformatic analyses including gene expression, coexpression network, and phylogenetic analysis of MYB superfamily.
Main Results:
- Roots and stems of P. lobata were identified as the primary sites of puerarin biosynthesis.
- A transcriptome dataset was generated, enabling the proposal of several candidate C-GTs involved in puerarin synthesis.
- A genome-wide analysis identified 123 PlMYB genes, with phylogenetic analysis highlighting strong candidates potentially regulating isoflavone biosynthesis.
Conclusions:
- This research provides crucial insights into the genetic regulation of puerarin biosynthesis in P. lobata.
- The identified candidate C-GTs and PlMYB transcription factors offer targets for future metabolic engineering and breeding efforts to enhance puerarin production.
