Integrated metabolomics and transcriptome analysis on flavonoid biosynthesis in safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) under MeJA treatment

Safflower is widely used in dying and in traditional medicine, and C-glucosylquinochalcones are the main metabolic species in the red color of safflower. Various safflower cultivars have flowers with different colors. However, the metabolic and transcriptional differences among safflower cultivars with different-colored flowers and the genes participating in C-glucosylquinochalcone biosynthesis are largely unknown. To provide insights on this issue, we performed integrated metabolomics and transcriptome analyses on the flavonoid biosynthesis of flowers of different colors in safflower (white-W, yellow-Y, light red-LR, and deep red-DR). The metabolic analysis showed that flavonoid metabolites showed great differences among the different colors of safflower. More flavonoid metabolic species were detected in Y and W, while C-glucosylquinochalcones were not detected in W. The content of C-glucosylquinochalcones increased with increasing color. Transcriptional analysis showed that most of the annotated flavonoid biosynthesis genes were significantly increased in W. The expression of genes related to flavonoid biosynthesis decreased with increasing color. We analyzed the candidate genes associated with C-glucosylquinochalcones, and an integration of the metabolic and transcriptional analyses indicated that the differential expression of the chalcone synthase (CHS) gene is one of the main reasons for the difference in flavonoid species and content among the different colors of safflower. Combined with the expression pattern analysis, these results indicated that HH_035319, HH_032689, and HH_018025 are likely involved in C-glucosylquinochalcones biosynthesis. In addition, we found that their expression showed greatly increased after the methyl jasmonate (MeJA) treatment. Therefore, HH_035319, HH_032689, and HH_018025 might participate in C-glucosylquinochalcone biosynthesis, which ultimately leads to the red color in safflower.

Download Full-text

Transcriptome analysis of flavonoid biosynthesis in safflower flowers grown under different light intensities

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.8671 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

pp. e8671 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Chaoxiang Ren ◽

Jie Wang ◽

Bin Xian ◽

Xiaohui Tang ◽

Xuyun Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Transcriptome Analysis ◽

High Performance ◽

Differential Expression Analysis ◽

Carthamus Tinctorius ◽

Flavonoid Biosynthesis ◽

Rt Pcr ◽

Light Intensities ◽

Two Samples ◽

Distribution Boundary ◽

History Of

Background Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is a domesticated species with a long history of cultivation and widespread distribution across the globe, and light plays an important role in controlling its distribution boundary. Flowers from safflower have been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine because of their ability to improve cerebral blood flow. Flavonoids are the main active compounds in safflower and have many pharmacological effects. In this study, we aimed to explore the relationship between different light intensities and flavonoid biosynthesis in safflower flowers cultivated in greenhouse. Methods The transcriptome of safflower flowers grown under different light intensities were sequenced through BGISEQ-500 platform. After assembled and filtered, Unigenes were annotated by aligning with seven functional databases. Differential expression analysis of two samples was performed with the DEseq2 package. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related with flavonoids biosynthesis were analyzed by Real-time PCR (RT-PCR). Flavonoids accumulation in flowers were determined by high performance liquid chromatography and spectrophotometer. Results Transcriptome analysis of safflower flowers cultivated under different light intensities was performed. A total of 99.16 Gb data were obtained, and 78,179 Unigenes were annotated. Among the DEGs, 13 genes were related to flavonoid biosynthesis. The differential expressions of seven key genes were confirmed by RT-PCR. In addition, the levels of some flavonoids were measured in safflower flowers grown under different light intensities. CtHCT3 gene expression showed a significantly negative correlation with kaempferol content in safflower grown under different light intensities. Conclusion Our results strongly suggested that the reduction in light intensity in a suitable range promoted flavonoid biosynthesis in safflower flowers. We suggest that the expressions of HCT genes played an important role in flavonoid accumulation in safflower flowers. Our study lays a foundation for further research on the effects of light on flavonoid biosynthesis in safflower.

Download Full-text

Comparative Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Key Genes and Pathways Involved in Prickle Development in Eggplant

Genes ◽

10.3390/genes12030341 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (3) ◽

pp. 341

Author(s):

Lei Zhang ◽

Haoyun Sun ◽

Tao Xu ◽

Tianye Shi ◽

Zongyun Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Transcriptome Analysis ◽

Morphological Analysis ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Flavonoid Biosynthesis ◽

Phenotypic Characterization ◽

Comparative Transcriptome ◽

Hub Genes ◽

Breeding Programs ◽

Comparative Transcriptome Analysis ◽

Key Pathways

Eggplant is one of the most important vegetables worldwide. Prickles on the leaves, stems and fruit calyxes of eggplant may cause difficulties during cultivation, harvesting and transportation, and therefore is an undesirable agronomic trait. However, limited knowledge about molecular mechanisms of prickle morphogenesis has hindered the genetic improvement of eggplant. In this study, we performed the phenotypic characterization and transcriptome analysis on prickly and prickleless eggplant genotypes to understand prickle development at the morphological and molecular levels. Morphological analysis revealed that eggplant prickles were multicellular, lignified and layered organs. Comparative transcriptome analysis identified key pathways and hub genes involved in the cell cycle as well as flavonoid biosynthetic, photosynthetic, and hormone metabolic processes during prickle development. Interestingly, genes associated with flavonoid biosynthesis were up-regulated in developing prickles, and genes associated with photosynthesis were down-regulated in developing and matured prickles. It was also noteworthy that several development-related transcription factors such as bHLH, C2H2, MYB, TCP and WRKY were specifically down- or up-regulated in developing prickles. Furthermore, four genes were found to be differentially expressed within the Pl locus interval. This study provides new insights into the regulatory molecular mechanisms underlying prickle morphogenesis in eggplant, and the genes identified might be exploited in breeding programs to develop prickleless eggplant cultivars.

Download Full-text

Comparative Transcriptome Analysis of Ampelopsis megalophylla for Identifying Genes Involved in Flavonoid Biosynthesis and Accumulation during Different Seasons

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules24071267 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 24 (7) ◽

pp. 1267 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Min Yang ◽

Peina Zhou ◽

Chun Gui ◽

Guozheng Da ◽

Ling Gong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Transcriptome Analysis ◽

Folk Medicine ◽

Flavonoid Biosynthesis ◽

Active Components ◽

Important Species ◽

Coa Ligase ◽

Leucoanthocyanidin Reductase ◽

Different Seasons ◽

Flavonoid Biosynthesis Pathway

Ampelopsis megalophylla is an important species used in Chinese folk medicine. Flavonoids, the most important active components of plants, greatly determine the quality of A. megalophylla. However, biosynthesis of flavonoids at the molecular and genetic levels in A. megalophylla is not well understood. In this study, we performed chemical analysis and transcriptome analysis of A. megalophylla in different seasons (i.e., May, August, and October). Accumulation of flavonoids was higher in May than in the other two months. Genes involved in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway, such as chalcone synthase, anthocyanidin synthase, flavanone 3-hydroxylase, flavonoid-3′,5′-hydroxylase, caffeoyl-CoA O-methyltransferase, dihydroflavonol 4-reductase, 4-coumarate-CoA ligase, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, cinnamate 4-hydroxylase, flavonoid 3′-monooxygenase, shikimate O-hydroxycinnamoyltransferase, and leucoanthocyanidin reductase, were identified based on transcriptome data. Fifty ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporter, nine SNARE, forty-nine GST, and eighty-four glycosyltransferases unigenes related to flavonoid transport and biomodification were also found. Moreover, seventy-eight cytochrome P450s and multiple transcription factors (five MYB, two bHLH, and three WD40 family genes) may be associated with the regulation of the flavonoid biosynthesis process. These results provide insights into the molecular processes of flavonoid biosynthesis in A. megalophylla and offer a significant resource for the application of genetic engineering in developing varieties with improved quality.

Download Full-text

Metabolic Profiling and Transcriptome Analysis of Mulberry Leaves Provide Insights into Flavonoid Biosynthesis

Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry ◽

10.1021/acs.jafc.9b06931 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 68 (5) ◽

pp. 1494-1504 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Dong Li ◽

Guo Chen ◽

Bi Ma ◽

Chengzhang Zhong ◽

Ningjia He

Keyword(s):

Transcriptome Analysis ◽

Metabolic Profiling ◽

Flavonoid Biosynthesis ◽

Mulberry Leaves

Download Full-text

Transcriptome Analysis Reveals genes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis and accumulation in Dendrobium catenatum From Different Locations

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-018-24751-y ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Zhouxi Lei ◽

Chunhua Zhou ◽

Xiaoyu Ji ◽

Gang Wei ◽

Yuechun Huang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Transcriptome Analysis ◽

Flavonoid Biosynthesis

Download Full-text

Transcriptome analysis of differentially expressed unigenes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis during flower development of Chrysanthemum morifolium ‘Chuju’

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-018-31831-6 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Junyang Yue ◽

Chuanxue Zhu ◽

Yu Zhou ◽

Xiangli Niu ◽

Min Miao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Transcriptome Analysis ◽

Flower Development ◽

Chrysanthemum Morifolium ◽

Flavonoid Biosynthesis ◽

Differentially Expressed

Download Full-text

Comparative Metabolomic and Transcriptome Analysis Reveal Distinct Flavonoid Biosynthesis Regulation Between Petals of White and Purple Phalaenopsis amabilis

Journal of Plant Growth Regulation ◽

10.1007/s00344-019-10025-y ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 39 (2) ◽

pp. 823-840 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Xiaoqing Meng ◽

Ge Li ◽

Lingya Gu ◽

Yu Sun ◽

Zongyun Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Transcriptome Analysis ◽

Flavonoid Biosynthesis ◽

Biosynthesis Regulation

Download Full-text

Metabolome and transcriptome analysis of flavor components and flavonoid biosynthesis in fig female flower tissues (Ficus carica L.) after bagging

BMC Plant Biology ◽

10.1186/s12870-021-03169-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Ziran Wang ◽

Miaoyu Song ◽

Zhe Wang ◽

Shangwu Chen ◽

Huiqin Ma

Keyword(s):

Amino Acids ◽

Organic Acids ◽

Transcriptome Analysis ◽

Female Flower ◽

Flavonoid Biosynthesis ◽

Fruit Tissue ◽

Flavor Components ◽

Before And After ◽

Flower Tissue

Abstract Background Bagging can improve the appearance of fruits and increase the food safety and commodification, it also has effects on intrinsic quality of the fruits, which was commonly reported negative changes. Fig can be regarded as a new model fruit with its relatively small genome size and long fruit season. Results In this study, widely targeted metabolomics based on HPLC MS/MS and RNA-seq of the fruit tissue of the ‘Zibao’ fig before and after bagging were analyzed to reveal the metabolites changes of the edible part of figs and the underneath gene expression network changes. A total of 771 metabolites were identified in the metabolome analysis using fig female flower tissue. Of these, 88 metabolites (including one carbohydrate, eight organic acids, seven amino acids, and two vitamins) showed significant differences in fruit tissue before and after bagging. Changes in 16 structural genes, 13 MYB transcription factors, and endogenous hormone (ABA, IAA, and GA) metabolism and signal transduction-related genes in the biosynthesis pathway of flavonoids after bagging were analyzed by transcriptome analysis. KEGG enrichment analysis also determined significant differences in flavonoid biosynthesis pathways in female flower tissue before and after bagging. Conclusions This work provided comprehensive information on the composition and abundance of metabolites in the female flower tissue of fig. The results showed that the differences in flavor components of the fruit before and after bagging could be explained by changes in the composition and abundance of carbohydrates, organic acids, amino acids, and phenolic compounds. This study provides new insights into the effects of bagging on changes in the intrinsic and appearance quality of fruits.

Download Full-text