Transcriptome analysis explores genes related to shikonin biosynthesis in Lithospermeae plants and provides insights into Boraginales’ evolutionary history

Abstract

Shikonin and its derivatives extracted from Lithospermeae plants’ red roots have current applications in food and pharmaceutical industries. Previous studies have cloned some genes related to shikonin biosynthesis. However, most genes related to shikonin biosynthesis remain unclear, because the lack of the genome/transcriptome of the Lithospermeae plants. Therefore, in order to provide a new understanding of shikonin biosynthesis, we obtained transcriptome data and unigenes expression profiles in three shikonin-producing Lithospermeae plants, i.e., Lithospermum erythrorhizon, Arnebia euchroma and Echium plantagineum. As a result, two unigenes (i.e., G10H and 12OPR) that are involved in “shikonin downstream biosynthesis” and “methyl jasmonate biosynthesis” were deemed to relate to shikonin biosynthesis in this study. Furthermore, we conducted a Lamiids phylogenetic model and identified orthologous unigenes under positive selection in above three Lithospermeae plants. The results indicated Boraginales was more relative to Solanales/Gentianales than to Lamiales.

CYP76B74 Catalyzes the 3′′-Hydroxylation of Geranylhydroquinone in Shikonin Biosynthesis

“…Recently, unigenes annotated as G10H, which have a similar function to the GHQ399H enzyme and belong to the P450 monooxygenase family, have been found upregulated in red roots compared with green leaves/ stems of three Boraginaceae plants (i.e. L. erythrorhizon, A. euchroma, and E. plantagineum; Wu et al, 2017). Our results are consistent with this previous work and indicate that CYP76Bs are expanded within Boraginaceae s.s.…”

Alkannin restrains oral squamous carcinoma cell growth, migration and invasion by regulating microRNA-9/RECK axis

“…Alkannin (ALK, chemical formula: C 16 H 16 O 5 ; molecular weight: 288.31) also known as shikonin, isolates from the root of Boraginaceae species, such as Lithospermum erythrorhizon, Arnebia euchroma and A. guttata [8]. The anti-inflammatory and anti-tumour activities of ALK have been verified in diverse illnesses.…”

<i>Lithospermum erythrorhizon</i> cell cultures: Present and future aspects

“…We have used these techniques to thoroughly analyze biological events that occur in cultured cells and the hairy roots of L. erythrorhizon. Transcriptomics data in several shikonin-producing boraginaceaeous plants were recently published (Wu et al 2017). Active competition in this field will accelerate the progress in understanding the pathways and regulatory mechanisms of shikonin biosynthesis and transport.…”

“…This medium was designed by thoroughly optimizing the constituents present in White's medium (White 1954). Essentially, M9 medium does not contain ammonium ions, which are abundant in LS medium, while having a >10-fold greater concentration of Cu 2+ ion than LS medium.…”