Differential Network Analysis Reveals Evolutionary Complexity in Secondary Metabolism of Rauvolfia serpentina over Catharanthus roseus

Abstract

Comparative co-expression analysis of multiple species using high-throughput data is an integrative approach to determine the uniformity as well as diversification in biological processes. Rauvolfia serpentina and Catharanthus roseus, both members of Apocyanacae family, are reported to have remedial properties against multiple diseases. Despite of sharing upstream of terpenoid indole alkaloid pathway, there is significant diversity in tissue-specific synthesis and accumulation of specialized metabolites in these plants. This led us to implement comparative co-expression network analysis to investigate the modules and genes responsible for differential tissue-specific expression as well as species-specific synthesis of metabolites. Toward these goals differential network analysis was implemented to identify candidate genes responsible for diversification of metabolites profile. Three genes were identified with significant difference in connectivity leading to differential regulatory behavior between these plants. These genes may be responsible for diversification of secondary metabolism, and thereby for species-specific metabolite synthesis. The network robustness of R. serpentina, determined based on topological properties, was also complemented by comparison of gene-metabolite networks of both plants, and may have evolved to have complex metabolic mechanisms as compared to C. roseus under the influence of various stimuli. This study reveals evolution of complexity in secondary metabolism of R. serpentina, and key genes that contribute toward diversification of specific metabolites.

Comprehensive transcriptomic meta-analysis unveils new responsive genes to methyl jasmonate and ethylene in Catharanthus roseus

“…Previous studies investigating C. roseus have identified DEGs. For instance, Pathania et al (2016) characterized 858 genes to pinpoint those linked to metabolite production [ 32 ]. In another study by Pan et al (2018), 383 and 1095 genes exhibited different expression levels in response to ET or MeJA, with 1214 showing upregulation and 264 displaying downregulation [ 5 ].…”

croFGD: Catharanthus roseus Functional Genomics Database

“…Comparative co-expression network analysis between species is an effective approach to predict gene function and improve functional annotation (Pathania et al, 2016). We conducted network comparison for gene list with PCC ranks in the top 300 between C. roseus and Arabidopsis (obtained from ATTED-II) (Supplementary Figure S5).…”

Advances in Biomaterial‐Based Spinal Cord Injury Repair

“…SCI destroys the structural framework of the spinal cord and results in the formation of multiple cavities of different sizes. [ 210 ] These cavities aggregate into larger collections, lacking support for cell migration and oriented neuronal growth. [ 211 ] A large number of preclinical studies in rodents and large animal SCI models have provided evidence for the treatment effects of grafted and endogenous NSCs used to replace lost neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes.…”