Putative Genes Identified in Alkaloids Biosynthesis in Dendrobium officinale by Correlating the Contents of Main Bioactive Metabolites with Genes Expression between Protocorm-like Bodies and Leaves

Abstract Background: Dendrobium officinale, an endangered Chinese herb, has extensive therapeutic effects and contains bioactive ingredients including a large number of polysaccharides and alkaloids, and minimal flavonoids. Firstly, this study attempts to obtain the protocorm-like bodies of this plant through tissue culture to produce the main secondary metabolites whose distribution in each organelle and protocorm like bodies is analyzed. Then, analysis of the correlation between comparative transcriptome sequence and the metabolite content in different organs enables the discovery of putative genes encoding enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of polysaccharides and alkaloids, and flavonoids.Results: The optimum condition for protocorm-like bodies (PLBs) induction and propagation of D. officinale is established. For protocorm induction, we use the seed as the explant, and the optimum medium formula for PLBs propagation is 1/2 MS + α-NAA 0.5 mg·L-1 +6-BA 1.0 mg·L-1 + 2, 4-D 1.5-2.0 mg·L-1 + potato juice 100 g·L-1. The distribution of polysaccharides, alkaloids and flavonoids in D. officinale organs was clarified. Stems, PLBs and leaves have the highest content of polysaccharides, alkaloids and flavonoids, respectively. PLBs replace organs to produce alkaloids in D. officinale, and naringenin was only produced in stem. Hot water extraction (HWE) method was found outperforming the ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) method for polysaccharides from D. officinale. A comparative transcriptome analysis of the protocorm-like bodies and leaves of D. officinale showed genes encoding enzymes involved in polysaccharides, alkaloids and flavonoids biosynthetic pathway were differentially expressed. Putative genes encoding enzymes involved in polysaccharides, alkaloids and flavonoids synthetic pathway were identified. Notably, genes encoding enzymes of strictosidine beta-glucosidase, geissoschizine synthase and vinorine synthase in alkaloids biosynthesis of D. officinale are first reported.Conclusions: Our works, especially the identification of candidate genes encoding enzymes involved in metabolites biosynthesis will help to explore and protect the endangered genetic resources and will also facilitate further analysis of the molecular mechanism of secondary metabolites’ biosynthesis in D. officinale.

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Putative genes in alkaloid biosynthesis identified in Dendrobium officinale by correlating the contents of major bioactive metabolites with genes expression between Protocorm-like bodies and leaves

BMC Genomics ◽

10.1186/s12864-021-07887-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Zhaojian Wang ◽

Weimin Jiang ◽

Yingying Liu ◽

Xiaoxi Meng ◽

Xinglong Su ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Extraction Method ◽

Chinese Herb ◽

Hot Water ◽

Dendrobium Officinale ◽

Bioactive Metabolites ◽

Therapeutic Effects ◽

Biosynthetic Pathways ◽

Comparative Transcriptome ◽

Alkaloid Biosynthesis ◽

Genes Encoding

Abstract Background Dendrobium officinale, an endangered Chinese herb, possesses extensive therapeutic effects and contains bioactive ingredients such as major polysaccharides, alkaloids, and minimal flavonoids. We first obtained the protocorm-like bodies (PLBs) of this plant through tissue culture in order to determine the distribution of the main secondary metabolites in each organelle and the PLBs. We then analyzed the correlation between gene expression level from comparative transcriptome sequencing and metabolite content in different organs to identify putative genes encoding enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of polysaccharides, alkaloids, and flavonoids. Results We used seeds as explants for protocorm induction and PLB propagation of D. officinale. The optimal medium formula for PLB propagation was 1/2 MS + α-NAA 0.5 mg·L− 1 + 6-BA 1.0 mg·L− 1 + 2, 4-D 1.5–2.0 mg·L− 1 + potato juice 100 g·L− 1. Stems, PLBs and leaves of D. officinale had the highest content of polysaccharides, alkaloids and flavonoids, respectively. Naringenin was only produced in stem; however, PLBs with high alkaloid content can replace other organs producing alkaloids. The hot water extraction method outperformed the ultrasound-assisted extraction method for extracting polysaccharides from D. officinale. A comparative transcriptome analysis of PLBs and leaves of D. officinale revealed differential expression of genes encoding enzymes involved in polysaccharide, alkaloid and flavonoid biosynthetic pathways. Putative genes encoding enzymes involved in these biosynthetic pathways were identified. Notably, we identified genes encoding the alkaloid biosynthesis enzymes strictosidine β-D-Glucosidase, geissoschizine synthase and vinorine synthase in D. officinale. Conclusions The identification of candidate genes encoding enzymes involved in metabolite biosynthesis will help to explore and protect this endangered species and facilitate further analysis of the molecular mechanism of secondary metabolite biosynthesis in D. officinale.

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Transcriptomic analyses reveal putative genes associated with bibenzyl biosynthesis in the traditional Chinese herb Dendrobium officinale

10.21203/rs.2.17392/v1 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Oluwaniyi Isaiah Adejobi ◽

Ju Guan ◽

Liu Yang ◽

Jiang-Miao Hu ◽

Anmin Yu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Secondary Metabolites ◽

Differentially Expressed Genes ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Chinese Herb ◽

Differentially Expressed ◽

Experimental Result ◽

Dendrobium Officinale ◽

Future Research ◽

Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine ◽

Root Tissues

Abstract Background: Dendrobium plants are well known for their uses in traditional Chinese herbal medicine. Bibenzyl compounds are the main active compounds in Dendrobium officinale. However, the physiological and molecular basis for the biosynthesis of bibenzyl compounds in Dendrobium plants remains underexplored. Results: In this study, the accumulation of erianin and gigantol were studied as representative compounds of bibenzyl. Their presence in plant tissues were investigated. Our results show that root tissues contained the highest content of bibenzyl (erianin and gigantol). Based on the pre-experimental result that exogenous application of Methyl-Jasmonate promotes the biosynthesis of bibenzyl compounds in D. officinale root tissues, comparative transcriptomic analyses were conducted between the bibenzyl-accumulated root tissues and a control. In total, we identified 1,342 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with 912 up-regulated and 430 down-regulated genes. Most of the identified DEGs are functionally involved in the JA signaling pathway and the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. In particular, we identified 11 enzymatic genes functionally involved in bibenzyl biosynthesis.Conclusions: Our study provide insights on the identification of putative genes associated with bibenzyl biosynthesis and accumulation in Dendrobium plants, and also paves the way for future research on dissecting the physiological and molecular mechanisms of bibenzyl synthesis in plants as well as on how to best utilize genetic engineering and molecular modification techniques to genetically improve Dendrobium varieties by increasing the content of bibenzyl for drug production and industrialization. Keywords: Bibenzyl, D. officinale , Differentially expressed genes, Secondary metabolites, Transcriptome analysis.

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Icariin protects against cage layer osteoporosis by intervening in steroid biosynthesis and glycerophospholipid metabolism

Animal Diseases ◽

10.1186/s44149-021-00001-z ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Zhengwang Yu ◽

Jie Huang ◽

Zhongxin Zhou

Keyword(s):

Metabolic Diseases ◽

Chinese Herb ◽

Therapeutic Effects ◽

Mineral Density ◽

Steroid Biosynthesis ◽

Metabolic Pathway Analysis ◽

Effective Prevention ◽

Calcium Diet ◽

Low Calcium Diet ◽

Low Calcium

AbstractCage layer osteoporosis (CLO) is a common bone metabolism disease in the breeding industry of China. However, effective prevention for CLO has not been developed. Icariin (ICA), the main bioactive component of the Chinese herb Epimedium, has been shown to have good therapeutic effects on bone-related diseases. In this study, the effects of ICA were further evaluated in a low-calcium diet-induced CLO, and a serum metabolomics assay was performed to understand the underlying mechanisms. A total of 144 31-wk-old Lohmann pink-shell laying hens were randomly allocated to 4 groups with 6 replicates of 6 hens per replicate. The 4 dietary treatment groups consisted of a basal diet (3.5% calcium), a low-calcium diet (2.0% calcium), and a low-calcium diet supplemented with 0.5 or 2.0 g/kg ICA. The results showed that ICA exerted good osteoprotective effects on low-calcium diet-induced CLO. ICA significantly increased femur bone mineral density, improved bone microstructure, decreased bone metabolic level, and upregulated mRNA expression of bone formation genes in femoral bone tissue. Serum untargeted metabolomics analysis showed that 8 metabolite levels were significantly changed after ICA treatment, including increased contents of 7-dehydrocholesterol, 7-oxocholesterol, desmosterol, PC (18:1(9Z)/18:1(9Z)), PS (18:0/18:1(9Z)), N,N-dimethylaniline and 2-hydroxy-butanoic acid and decreased N2,N2-dimethylguanosine. Metabolic pathway analysis based on the above 8 metabolites indicated that ICA mainly perturbed steroid biosynthesis and glycerophospholipid metabolism. These findings suggest that ICA can effectively prevent bone loss in low-calcium diet-induced CLO by mediating steroid biosynthesis and glycerophospholipid metabolism and provide new information for the regulation of bone metabolic diseases.

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A Cross-Metabolomic Approach Shows that Wheat Interferes with Fluorescent Pseudomonas Physiology through Its Root Metabolites

Metabolites ◽

10.3390/metabo11020084 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 84

Author(s):

Laura Rieusset ◽

Marjolaine Rey ◽

Florence Gerin ◽

Florence Wisniewski-Dyé ◽

Claire Prigent-Combaret ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Secondary Metabolites ◽

Host Plant ◽

Soil Microorganisms ◽

Wheat Root ◽

Bioactive Metabolites ◽

Root Extracts ◽

Fluorescent Pseudomonas ◽

Health And Development ◽

The Impact ◽

Metabolomic Approach

Roots contain a wide variety of secondary metabolites. Some of them are exudated in the rhizosphere, where they are able to attract and/or control a large diversity of microbial species. In return, the rhizomicrobiota can promote plant health and development. Some rhizobacteria belonging to the Pseudomonas genus are known to produce a wide diversity of secondary metabolites that can exert a biological activity on the host plant and on other soil microorganisms. Nevertheless, the impact of the host plant on the production of bioactive metabolites by Pseudomonas is still poorly understood. To characterize the impact of plants on the secondary metabolism of Pseudomonas, a cross-metabolomic approach has been developed. Five different fluorescent Pseudomonas strains were thus cultivated in the presence of a low concentration of wheat root extracts recovered from three wheat genotypes. Analysis of our metabolomic workflow revealed that the production of several Pseudomonas secondary metabolites was significantly modulated when bacteria were cultivated with root extracts, including metabolites involved in plant-beneficial properties.

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Lupeol Accumulation Correlates with Auxin in the Epidermis of Castor

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules26102978 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (10) ◽

pp. 2978

Author(s):

Donghai Li ◽

Cheng Pan ◽

Jianjun Lu ◽

Wajid Zaman ◽

Huayan Zhao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Auxin Transport ◽

Biosynthesis Pathway ◽

Comparative Transcriptome ◽

Hormone Activity ◽

Promoter Regions ◽

Pentacyclic Triterpene ◽

Large Numbers ◽

Genes Encoding ◽

Low Levels ◽

Underlying Mechanisms

Lupeol, a natural lupane-type pentacyclic triterpene, possesses various pharmacological properties, and its production attracts attention. Significant quantities of lupeol are deposited on the castor aerial organ surface and are easily extractable as a predominant wax constituent. Thus, castor might be considered as a potential bioreactor for the production of lupeol. The lupeol biosynthesis pathway is well known, but how it is regulated remains largely unknown. Among large numbers of castor cultivars, we targeted one accession line (337) with high levels of lupeol on its stem surface and low levels thereof on its hypocotyl surface, implicating that lupeol synthesis is differentially regulated in the two organs. To explore the underlying mechanisms, we did comparative transcriptome analysis of the first internode of 337 stem and the upper hypocotyl. Our results show that large amounts of auxin-related genes are differentially expressed in both parts, implying some possible interactions between auxin and lupeol production. We also found that several auxin-responsive cis-elements are present in promoter regions of HMGR and LUS genes encoding two key enzymes involved in lupeol production. Furthermore, auxin treatments apparently induced the expression levels of RcHMGR and RcLUS. Furthermore, we observed that auxin treatment significantly increased lupeol contents, whereas inhibiting auxin transport led to an opposite phenotype. Our study reveals some relationships between hormone activity and lupeol synthesis and might provide a promising way for improving lupeol yields in castor.

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Taxonomy, Diversity and Cultivation of the Oudemansielloid/Xeruloid Taxa Hymenopellis, Mucidula, Oudemansiella, and Xerula with Respect to Their Bioactivities: A Review

Journal of Fungi ◽

10.3390/jof7010051 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 51

Author(s):

Allen Grace Niego ◽

Olivier Raspé ◽

Naritsada Thongklang ◽

Rawiwan Charoensup ◽

Saisamorn Lumyong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Secondary Metabolites ◽

Bioactive Compounds ◽

State Of The Art ◽

Bioactive Metabolites ◽

High Quality ◽

Important Resource ◽

Molecular Weights ◽

Anti Cancer ◽

Potential Applications ◽

Commercial Applications

The oudemansielloid/xeruloid taxa Hymenopellis, Mucidula, Oudemansiella, and Xerula are genera of Basidiomycota that constitute an important resource of bioactive compounds. Numerous studies have shown antimicrobial, anti-oxidative, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and other bioactivities of their extracts. The bioactive principles can be divided into two major groups: (a) hydrophilic polysaccharides with relatively high molecular weights and (b) low molecular medium polar secondary metabolites, such as the antifungal strobilurins. In this review, we summarize the state of the art on biodiversity, cultivation of the fungi and bioactivities of their secondary metabolites and discuss future applications. Although the strobilurins are well-documented, with commercial applications as agrochemical fungicides, there are also other known compounds from this group that have not yet been well-studied. Polysaccharides, dihydro-citrinone phenol A acid, scalusamides, and acetylenic lactones such as xerulin, also have potential applications in the nutraceutical, pharmaceutical and medicinal market and should be further explored. Further studies are recommended to isolate high quality bioactive compounds and fully understand their modes of action. Given that only few species of oudemansielloid/xeruloid mushrooms have been explored for their production of secondary metabolites, these taxa represent unexplored sources of potentially useful and novel bioactive metabolites.

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Bioactive Secondary Metabolites of the Genus Diaporthe and Anamorph Phomopsis from Terrestrial and Marine Habitats and Endophytes: 2010–2019

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms9020217 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 217

Author(s):

Tang-Chang Xu ◽

Yi-Han Lu ◽

Jun-Fei Wang ◽

Zhi-Qiang Song ◽

Ya-Ge Hou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Secondary Metabolites ◽

Small Molecules ◽

Host Plants ◽

Plant Pathogens ◽

Bioactive Metabolites ◽

Drug Candidates ◽

The Past ◽

Marine Habitats ◽

Bioactive Secondary Metabolites ◽

Unidentified Species

The genus Diaporthe and its anamorph Phomopsis are distributed worldwide in many ecosystems. They are regarded as potential sources for producing diverse bioactive metabolites. Most species are attributed to plant pathogens, non-pathogenic endophytes, or saprobes in terrestrial host plants. They colonize in the early parasitic tissue of plants, provide a variety of nutrients in the cycle of parasitism and saprophytism, and participate in the basic metabolic process of plants. In the past ten years, many studies have been focused on the discovery of new species and biological secondary metabolites from this genus. In this review, we summarize a total of 335 bioactive secondary metabolites isolated from 26 known species and various unidentified species of Diaporthe and Phomopsis during 2010–2019. Overall, there are 106 bioactive compounds derived from Diaporthe and 246 from Phomopsis, while 17 compounds are found in both of them. They are classified into polyketides, terpenoids, steroids, macrolides, ten-membered lactones, alkaloids, flavonoids, and fatty acids. Polyketides constitute the main chemical population, accounting for 64%. Meanwhile, their bioactivities mainly involve cytotoxic, antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-algae, phytotoxic, and enzyme inhibitory activities. Diaporthe and Phomopsis exhibit their potent talents in the discovery of small molecules for drug candidates.

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Scabiosa Genus: A Rich Source of Bioactive Metabolites

Medicines ◽

10.3390/medicines5040110 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 5 (4) ◽

pp. 110 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Diana Pinto ◽

Naima Rahmouni ◽

Noureddine Beghidja ◽

Artur Silva

Keyword(s):

Secondary Metabolites ◽

Liver Diseases ◽

Mediterranean Region ◽

Folk Medicine ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Bioactive Metabolites ◽

Pentacyclic Triterpenoids ◽

Medical Settings ◽

Plant Names

The genus Scabiosa (family Caprifoliaceae) is considered large (618 scientific plant names of species) although only 62 have accepted Latin binominal names. The majority of the Scabiosa species are widely distributed in the Mediterranean region and some Scabiosa species are used in traditional medicine systems. For instance, Scabiosa columbaria L. is used traditionally against diphtheria while S. comosa Fisch. Ex Roem. and Schult. is used in Mongolian and Tibetan traditional medical settings to treat liver diseases. The richness of Scabiosa species in secondary metabolites such as iridoids, flavonoids and pentacyclic triterpenoids may contribute to its use in folk medicine. Details on the most recent and relevant pharmacological in vivo studies on the bioactive secondary metabolites isolated from Scabiosa species will be summarized and thoroughly discussed.

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Molecular Imaging in Traditional Chinese Medicine Therapy for Neurological Diseases

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2013/608430 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 ◽

pp. 1-11 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Zefeng Wang ◽

Haitong Wan ◽

Jinhui Li ◽

Hong Zhang ◽

Mei Tian

Keyword(s):

Chinese Medicine ◽

Molecular Imaging ◽

Traditional Chinese Medicine ◽

Neurological Disorders ◽

Neurological Diseases ◽

Chinese Herb ◽

Public Health Care ◽

Therapeutic Effects ◽

Cord Injury

With the speeding tendency of aging society, human neurological disorders have posed an ever increasing threat to public health care. Human neurological diseases include ischemic brain injury, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and spinal cord injury, which are induced by impairment or specific degeneration of different types of neurons in central nervous system. Currently, there are no more effective treatments against these diseases. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is focused on, which can provide new strategies for the therapy in neurological disorders. TCM, including Chinese herb medicine, acupuncture, and other nonmedication therapies, has its unique therapies in treating neurological diseases. In order to improve the treatment of these disorders by optimizing strategies using TCM and evaluate the therapeutic effects, we have summarized molecular imaging, a new promising technology, to assess noninvasively disease specific in cellular and molecular levels of living models in vivo, that was applied in TCM therapy for neurological diseases. In this review, we mainly focus on applying diverse molecular imaging methodologies in different TCM therapies and monitoring neurological disease, and unveiling the mysteries of TCM.

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Transcriptomic Responses in the Bloom-Forming Cyanobacterium Microcystis Induced during Exposure to Zooplankton

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.02832-16 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 83 (5) ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Matthew J. Harke ◽

Jennifer G. Jankowiak ◽

Brooke K. Morrell ◽

Christopher J. Gobler

Keyword(s):

Secondary Metabolites ◽

Daphnia Pulex ◽

Transcriptional Response ◽

Extracellular Polysaccharides ◽

Gas Vesicles ◽

Transcriptomic Response ◽

Content Type ◽

Genes Encoding ◽

Transcriptomic Responses ◽

Shock Proteins

ABSTRACT The bloom-forming, toxic cyanobacterium Microcystis synthesizes multiple secondary metabolites and has been shown to deter zooplankton grazing. However, the biochemical and/or molecular basis by which Microcystis deters zooplankton remains unclear. This global transcriptomic study explored the response of Microcystis to direct and indirect exposures to multiple densities of two cladoceran grazers, Daphnia pulex and D. magna. Higher densities of both daphnids significantly reduced Microcystis cell densities and elicited a stronger transcriptional response in Microcystis. While many putative grazer deterrence genes (encoding microcystin, aeruginosin, cyanopeptolin, and microviridin) were largely unaffected by zooplankton, transcripts for heat shock proteins (hsp) increased in abundance. Beyond metabolites and hsp, large increases in the abundances of transcripts from photosynthetic processes were observed, evidencing energy acquisition pathways were stimulated by grazing. In addition, transcripts of genes associated with the production of extracellular polysaccharides and gas vesicles significantly increased in abundance. These genes have been associated with colony formation and may have been invoked to deter grazers. Collectively, this study demonstrates that daphnid grazers induce a significant transcriptomic response in Microcystis, suggesting this cyanobacterium upregulates specific biochemical pathways to adapt to predation. IMPORTANCE This work explores the transcriptomic responses of Microcystis aeruginosa following exposure to grazing by two cladocerans, Daphnia magna and D. pulex. Contrary to previous hypotheses, Microcystis did not employ putative grazing deterrent secondary metabolites in response to the cladocerans, suggesting they may have other roles within the cell, such as oxidative stress protection. The transcriptional metabolic signature during intense grazing was largely reflective of a growth and stress response, although increasing abundances of transcripts encoding extracellular polysaccharides and gas vesicles were potentially related to predator avoidance.

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