Transcriptome and Metabolome Analyses Reveal Differences in Terpenoid and Flavonoid Biosynthesis in Cryptomeria fortunei Needles Across Different Seasons

Abstract

Cryptomeria fortunei (Chinese cedar) has outstanding medicinal value due to its abundant flavonoid and terpenoid contents. The metabolite contents of C. fortunei needles differ across different seasons. However, the biosynthetic mechanism of these differentially synthesized metabolites (DSMs) is poorly understood. To improve our understanding of this process, we performed integrated non-targeted metabolomic liquid chromatography and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS and GC-MS), and transcriptomic analyses of summer and winter needles. In winter, the C. fortunei needle ultrastructure was damaged, and the chlorophyll content and Fv/Fm were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced. Based on GC-MS and LC-MS, we obtained 106 and 413 DSMs, respectively; based on transcriptome analysis, we obtained a total of 41.17 Gb of clean data and assembled 33,063 unigenes, including 14,057 differentially expressed unigenes (DEGs). Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses showed that these DSMs/DEGs were significantly (p < 0.05) enriched in many biosynthesis pathways, such as terpenoids, photosynthates, and flavonoids. Integrated transcriptomic and metabonomic analyses showed that seasonal changes have the greatest impact on photosynthesis pathways, followed by terpenoid and flavonoid biosynthesis pathways. In summer Chinese cedar (SCC) needles, DXS, DXR, and ispH in the 2-methyl-pentaerythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) pathway and GGPS were highly expressed and promoted the accumulation of terpenoids, especially diterpenoids. In winter Chinese cedar (WCC) needles, 9 genes (HCT, CHS, CHI, F3H, F3'H, F3'5'H, FLS, DFR, and LAR) involved in flavonoid biosynthesis were highly expressed and promoted flavonoid accumulation. This study broadens our understanding of the metabolic and transcriptomic changes in C. fortunei needles caused by seasonal changes and provides a reference regarding the adaptive mechanisms of C. fortunei and the extraction of its metabolites.

Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis reveals the regulation mechanism of early bolting and flowering in two cultivars of Angelica sinensis

“…Gene expression levels were measured in FPKM values. To identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs), DESeq2 (v1.22.2) was employed with the following criteria: P < 0.005, |Log 2 FC| ≥ 1, and false discovery rate (FDR) < 0.05 [ 16 , 17 ]. The GO enrichment analysis was conducted using the P.A Wallenius non-central hypergeometric distribution, and KOBAS 2.0(v2011) was employed for analyzing the KEGG pathway enrichment of DEGs [ 13 ].…”

Potential Regulatory Networks and Heterosis for Flavonoid and Terpenoid Contents in Pak Choi: Metabolomic and Transcriptome Analyses

“…Terpenoids are derived from one of two biosynthetic pathways: the mevalonic acid (MVA) and plastidial 2-C-methylerythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) pathways. Flavonoid and terpenoid metabolism have been studied in many species, including Cucumis sativus [4], Passiflora edulis [5], Cryptomeria fortunei [6], and Primula veris [7]. Metabolomic analysis targeting terpenoids has led to the identification of 50 terpenoid metabolites, including 27 triterpenoid saponins and 11 triterpenes [8].…”

“…Temperature primarily regulates plant secondary metabolites and, particularly, the synthesis of flavonoids and terpenoids. Seasonal variations have the greatest influence on photosynthesis pathways, followed by terpenoid and flavonoid biosynthesis pathways [6]. The aroma of hybrid species is influenced by the genetics related to volatile compounds inherited from distinct parent organisms.…”

Soil Application of Bacillus subtilis Regulates Flavonoid and Alkaloids Biosynthesis in Mulberry Leaves

“…In recent years, integrated metabolomics and transcriptomics analysis has become an efficient method to explore the synthesis mechanisms of plant secondary metabolites, such as phenolics compounds [29], flavonoids [30] anthocyanin [31] and terpenoid [32]. Integrated analyses were also used in the studies of flavonoid biosynthesis of mulberry leaves and have provided meaningful insights [33,34].…”