Transcriptional regulation mechanism of flavonoids biosynthesis gene during fruit development in astragalus membranaceus

Abstract

Astragalus membranaceus, as an important medicinal plant, are an excellent source of flavonoids. Flavonoid compounds in A. membranaceus have been widely used in medicine and supplement, but known of the molecular mechanism of flavonoid biosynthesis is still very few. Here, we analyzed the association between flavonoid content and gene expression pattern during six different fruit developmental stages. Sixteen gene expression trends were significantly identified, involving 8,218 genes. The gene expression trend in profile 0 was positively correlated with flavonoid content, while the gene expression trend in profile 79 was negatively correlated with flavonoid content at six developmental stages. The expression level of genes involved in the general phenylpropane pathway was higher than that of genes involved in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway. A total of 37 genes involved in flavonoid synthesis were identified in A. membranaceus. The expression pattern of flavonoid-related genes was highly correlated with flavonoid content. Our study deepened the understanding of the flavonoid synthesis mechanism and provided useful resources for future studies on the high flavonoid molecular breeding of A. membranaceus.

Combined Metabolomics and Transcriptomics Analysis of the Distribution of Flavonoids in the Fibrous Root and Taproot of Polygonatum kingianum Coll.et Hemsl

“…Transcription factors play a crucial role in regulating the active expression of synthetases, with the transcriptional activation of synthetic factors being a key regulatory mechanism in the plant secondary metabolism [62,63]. Numerous studies have identified various families of transcription factors (MYB, MYC(bHLH), bZIP, and WD40) involved in the biosynthesis of flavonoids in medicinal plants like dendrobium [24], astragalus [64], sea buckthorn [65], and jujube [66]. In this study, it was observed that transcription factors such as MYB, bHLH, and bZIP, known to regulate flavonoid biosynthesis, were also present in the WR and RR of P. kingianum Coll.et Hemsl..…”

Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals the Involvement of Flavonoids Synthesis Genes and Transcription Factors in Dracaena cambodiana Response to Ultraviolet-B Radiation

“…Flavonoid biosynthesis is a complicated and volatile process involving a series of enzymes, including phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), cinnamate-4-hydroxylase (C4H), 4-coumaroyl CoA ligase (4CL), chalcone synthase (CHS), chalcone isomerase (CHI), flavonoid synthase (FLS), and flavonoid 3-hydroxylase (F3'H) [39]. PAL, C4H, and 4CL enzymes are important regulators in the synthesis of the phenylpropane metabolic pathway [86]. In this research, four PAL, one C4H, and fourteen 4CL DEGs were identified from the transcriptome data.…”

Integrated Transcriptomics and Metabolomics Analysis Reveals the Effects of Cutting on the Synthesis of Flavonoids and Saponins in Chinese Herbal Medicine Astragalus mongholious

“…In recent years, flavonoid biosynthesis genes, expressed by many plants, have been extensively studied; these have included Arabidopsis thaliana [25], Camellia sinensis [26], and Carthamus tinctorius L. [27]. Specifically, the transcriptional regulatory mechanism of flavonoids during fruit development [28] and the response mechanism under drought [29] and salt-alkali stress [30] in A. mongholicus have been studied. However, the effect of cutting on the content of flavonoids in this species is yet to be elucidated.…”