Aug 2026· Horticulturae· Vol 12, pp. 976· 0 citations· 85 references
TL;DR
72 candidate genes from seven enzyme families potentially involved in the synthesis of the HupA backbone are identified, including lysine/ornithine decarboxylases, copper amine oxidases, chalcone synthases, and cytochrome P450 monooxygenases.
Abstract
Huperzine A (HupA) is a natural Lycopodium alkaloid known for its potent neuroprotective properties through the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase. Nevertheless, the limited understanding of its biosynthesis restricts its broader application. This study integrates full-length and second-generation transcriptomes with the quantification of HupA and its precursor, huperzine B, across various tissues of Huperzia serrata, the primary source plant. By employing phylogenetic clustering, expression profiling, and correlation analysis between gene expression and metabolite abundance, we identified 71 candidate genes from seven enzyme families potentially involved in the synthesis of the HupA backbone, including lysine/ornithine decarboxylases, copper amine oxidases (CAOs), chalcone synthases, and cytochrome P450 monooxygenases. Additionally, 28 genes from two families were identified for modification reactions, specifically 2-oxoglutarate/Fe(II)-dependent dioxygenases and caffeoyl shikimate esterases. Comparative analysis between young and mature leaves revealed 3801 genes with higher expression in young leaves, with 84 showing a high correlation with HupA content across seven families. Protein–protein interaction network analysis indicated possible interactions with transcription factors from the MYB, NF-YC, GRAS, ERF, BHLH, and SAP families. Functional validation of two candidate CAOs in planta confirmed their catalytic roles in amine/alkaloid metabolism. This study provides a theoretical foundation and a set of candidate genes for elucidating the biosynthetic pathway of HupA and related alkaloids in H. serrata.
Findings reveal tissue-specific metabolite accumulation and key genes involved in MIA biosynthesis in N. cadamba that provide valuable insights into specialized metabolism and establish a foundation for future metabolic engineering and functional genomics studies.
Divya Selvakumar, G. Ramalingam, Suganya Balan et al.· Molecular Biology Reports· 0 citations
This work provides a foundational resource for C. diurnum for future pharmaceutical and biotechnological applications, enables the discovery and functional characterization of candidate genes, supports metabolic engineering strategies to enhance valuable terpenoids, and offers avenues to mitigate toxic alkaloid accumulation.
Vandana Mathur, Ramawatar Nagar, Maniraj Rathinam et al.· Physiology and Molecular Bio...· 0 citations
Sour jujube (Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa) is a valuable medicinal and edible fruit owing to its health-promoting properties. Methoxylated flavonoids enhance their value by improving stability and bioavailability. However, the cellular basis of their biosynthesis remains unclear. We constructed a single-nucleus transcriptomic atlas of sour jujube fruit. Parenchyma cells were identified as the primary sites for flavonoid biosynthesis and their O-methylation, characterized by high expression of phenylpropanoid pathway genes and O-methyltransferases (OMTs). Among the 48 identified OMTs, four (ZjOMT1–4) exhibited high expression, phylogenetically clustered with known functional OMTs, and localized to the cytoplasm; they were further characterized by enzyme activity assays. Notably, ZjOMT1 demonstrates moderate substrate promiscuity, catalyzing the methylation of various substrates, including quercetin, quercitrin, and rutin. Our findings reveal the cellular architecture of flavonoid metabolism in sour jujube fruit, providing genetic resources for breeding varieties with enhanced flavonoid profiles to develop functional foods and nutraceuticals.
Guo-Long Li, Hong-Hong Jiao, Wan-Li Zhao et al.· Journal of Agricultural and...· 0 citations
These findings collectively support flavanone 3-hydroxylase (F3H) as a candidate regulatory node governing organ-specific flavonoid partitioning in Rhododendron yedoense var.
Findings provide insights into the potential multifaceted insecticidal action of benzothiazole in T. castaneum at the transcriptomic level and support its further development as a target-specific grain fumigant.
Kai-Di Cui, Xue-Ran Hu, Weifeng Cheng et al.· Pest Management Science· 0 citations
Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) is an economically important berry rich in bioactive proanthocyanidins (PAs) with healthy benefits. The AP2/ERF gene family, one of the largest transcription factors (TFs) in plants, regulates diverse biological processes. However, its role in PA biosynthesis in strawberry remains unclear. In this study, comparative genomics of 39 species revealed lineage-specific expansion of AP2/ERF, primarily driven by whole-genome/segmental duplication. Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses of a high-PA natural mutant identified FaERF4 as a key positive regulator. Subcellular localization confirmed that FaERF4 localizes both the nucleus and cytoplasm. Transient/stable overexpression showed that FaERF4 significantly increased PA content and upregulated flavonoid genes without affecting anthocyanin accumulation. Mechanistically, FaERF4 specifically bound to and activated the promoters of FaLAR and FaANR, thereby promoting PA biosynthesis. This study reveals a novel mechanism by which FaERF4 specifically regulates PA biosynthesis and provides a theoretical basis for metabolic engineering of functional nutrients in strawberry.
Yi-Lin Yang, Si-Qi Dai, Hao Li et al.· Journal of Agricultural and...· 0 citations
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