Transcriptome Analyses Revealed the Key Metabolic Genes and Transcription Factors Involved in Terpenoid Biosynthesis in Sacred Lotus

Abstract

As the largest group of structurally diverse metabolites, terpenoids are versatile natural compounds that act as metabolism mediators, plant volatiles, and ecological communicators. However, few terpenoid compounds have been identified in plant parts of sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.). To elucidate the molecular genetic basis of the terpene biosynthetic pathway, terpenes from different parts of the plant, including seeds (S), young leaves (YL), mature leaves (ML), white flowers (WF), yellow flowers (YF), and red flowers (RF), were identified by LC-MS/MS and the relative contents of the same terpenes in different parts were compared. The results indicate that all plant parts primarily consist of triterpenes, with only minor quantities of sesquiterpenes and diterpenes, and there were differences in the terpene content detected in different plant parts. To illustrate the biosynthesis of various terpenoids, RNA sequencing was performed to profile the transcriptomes of various plant parts, which generated a total of 126.95 GB clean data and assembled into 29,630 unigenes. Among these unigenes, 105 candidate unigenes are involved in the mevalonate (MVA) pathway, methyl-erythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway, terpenoid backbone biosynthesis pathway, and terpenoid synthases pathway. Moreover, the co-expression network between terpene synthase (TPS) and WRKY transcription factors provides new information for the terpene biosynthesis pathway.

Triterpenoids from Meehania fargesii with Cytotoxic Activity1

“…Based on spectroscopic analysis and comparison to literature values, the structures of the known compounds were elucidated as 2α,3α,24-trihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid (2), [11] esculentic acid (3), [12] asiatic acid (4), [13] ursolic acid (5), [14] corosolic acid (6), [15] tormentic acid (7), [16] euscaphic acid (8), [17] 2α,3α,24-trihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid (9), [18] 2α,3α,23-trihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid (10), [19] arjunolic acid (11), [20] oleanolic acid (12), [21] maslinic acid (13), [15] epi-maslinic acid (14), [22] 3β-hydroxy-11α,12α-epoxyoleanan-28,13β-olide (15), [23] jacoumaric acid ( 16), [24] 3β-O-(trans-p-coumaroyl) maslinic acid (17), [25] and 3β-p-Z-coumaroylcorosolic acid (18), [25] respectively.…”

Melatonin‐induced myeloblastosis viral oncogene homologs alleviate fresh‐cut lotus root browning during storage by attenuating flavonoid biosynthesis and reactive oxygen species

“…The leaves and seeds of lotus are also used as a traditional herbal medicine 1 . Lotus roots are rich in nutritional compounds including starch, alkaloids, terpenoid, flavonoids, and vitamins 2,3 . Fresh‐cut lotus roots are popularly consumed as a convenient food ingredient.…”

“…1 Lotus roots are rich in nutritional compounds including starch, alkaloids, terpenoid, flavonoids, and vitamins. 2,3 Fresh-cut lotus roots are popularly consumed as a convenient food ingredient. However, browning causes huge economic losses and security risks during the storage and harvest of fresh-cut lotus.…”