The isolation and expression analysis of cinnamate 4-hydroxylase and chalcone synthase genes of Scrophularia striata under different abiotic elicitors

Abstract

The phenylpropanoid pathway serves as a rich source of metabolites in plants, and it is considered as a starting point for the production of many other important compounds such as the flavonoids, flavonols, coumarins, and lignans. Scrophularia striata is a member of the Lamiaceae family with some biological activities similar to flavonoid compounds such as antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities. Cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (C4H) and Chalcone synthase (CHS) are key enzymes of the phenylpropanoid pathway, leading to the biosynthesis of several secondary metabolites. In this study, two S. striata CHS and C4H were isolated and then analyzed. The investigation of the expression of these genes was performed under the effects of three salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA), and gibberellic acid (GA) at concentrations of 100 and 300 ppm with a completely randomized design at the transcript level using Real Time PCR method. These have different expression patterns at developmental stages. Moreover, these genes present different sensitivities to hormonal treatment. Considering the total results, it was found that the amount of expression of these genes during the reproductive phase is higher than that of the vegetative phase. Additionally, the treatment of 300 ppm SA in the reproductive phase is the most effective treatment on increasing the corresponding phenylpropanoid compounds. A correlation analysis was performed between the phenylpropanoid compounds content and both CHS and C4H expression values at different phenological development stages. The results indicate that the expression variations of both CHS and C4H are significantly related to the changes in total phenolic content. We believe that the isolation of CHS and C4H can be helpful in better understanding phenylpropanoid metabolis.

Orbitrap Mass Spectrometry-Based Profiling of Secondary Metabolites in Two Unexplored Eminium Species and Bioactivity Potential

“…Numerous studies have shown that the synthesis of polyphenols and flavonoids is regulated by genetics [ 13 , 14 , 15 ]. The flowers and leaves are also known to be the primary sites of storage and photosynthesis for these compounds [ 16 , 17 , 18 ].…”

Comparative Transcriptome Analysis Provides Insights into the Effect of Epicuticular Wax Accumulation on Salt Stress in Coconuts

“…MYB1 is involved in the activation of the chalcone synthase gene (CHS) and dihydroflavonol reductase gene (DFR) [ 44 ]. CHSs are key enzymes of the phenylpropanoid pathway, and the phenylpropanoid pathway is the starting point for the synthesis of flavonoids and flavonols [ 45 ]. DFR plays a key role in the biosynthesis of anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins (belonging to flavonoids) [ 46 ].…”

CRISPRi-Mediated Down-Regulation of the Cinnamate-4-Hydroxylase (C4H) Gene Enhances the Flavonoid Biosynthesis in Nicotiana tabacum

“…Metabolic engineering approaches have been demonstrated as an effective way of increasing the production of flavonoids [ 35 ]. While the application of CRISPR/Cas9 technology for manipulating the metabolite biosynthetic pathways in microorganism cells, such as bacteria and fungi, has become a widely used technique [ 36 , 37 , 38 ], the use of this technology for the same purpose in plants is scarce.…”