Heterologous Biosynthesis of Health-Promoting Baicalein in <i>Lycopersicon esculentum</i>
Jingjing Liao,
Lei Xie,
Tingyao Liu,
Changming Mo,
Shengrong Cui,
Xunli Jia,
Xiyang Huang,
Zuliang Luo,
Xiaojun Ma
Affiliations
Jingjing Liao
Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China
Lei Xie
Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China
Tingyao Liu
College of Horticulture, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China
Changming Mo
Guangxi Crop Genetic Improvement and Biotechnology Lab, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Science, Nanning 530007, China
Shengrong Cui
Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China
Xunli Jia
Yunnan Key Laboratory of Southern Medicine Utilization, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development Yunnan Branch, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinghong 666100, China
Xiyang Huang
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Phytochemicals and Sustainable Utilization, Guangxi Institute of Botany, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guilin 710089, China
Zuliang Luo
Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China
Xiaojun Ma
Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China
Baicalein is a valuable flavonoid isolated from the medicinal plant Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, which exhibits intensive biological activities, such as anticancer and antiviral activities. However, its production is limited in the root with low yield. In this study, In-Fusion and 2A peptide linker were developed to assemble SbCLL-7, SbCHI, SbCHS-2, SbFNSII-2 and SbCYP82D1.1 genes driven by the AtPD7, CaMV 35S and AtUBQ10 promoters with HSP, E9 and NOS terminators, and were used to engineer baicalein biosynthesis in transgenic tomato plants. The genetically modified tomato plants with this construct synthesized baicalein, ranging from 150 ng/g to 558 ng/g FW (fresh weight). Baicalein-fortified tomatoes have the potential to be health-promoting fresh vegetables and provide an alternative source of baicalein production, with great prospects for market application.
