Genome-wide identification of Uncaria rhynchophylla bHLH transcription factors and in-vitro validation of UrbHLH1 through interaction with terpenoid indole alkaloid synthesis pathway members

Yingying Shao; Detian Mu; Limei Pan; Zhiguo Lu; Yu Zhou; Huan Zhao; Iain W. Wilson; Ying Lu; Lina Zhu; Yao Zhang; Xinghui Liu; Ya Qin; Deyou Qiu; Qi Tang

Current Plant Biology (Jun 2024)

Genome-wide identification of Uncaria rhynchophylla bHLH transcription factors and in-vitro validation of UrbHLH1 through interaction with terpenoid indole alkaloid synthesis pathway members

Yingying Shao,
Detian Mu,
Limei Pan,
Zhiguo Lu,
Yu Zhou,
Huan Zhao,
Iain W. Wilson,
Ying Lu,
Lina Zhu,
Yao Zhang,
Xinghui Liu,
Ya Qin,
Deyou Qiu,
Qi Tang

Affiliations

Yingying Shao: College of Horticulture, National Research Center of Engineering Technology for Utilization of Botanical Functional Ingredients, Hunan Agricultural University, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
Detian Mu: College of Horticulture, National Research Center of Engineering Technology for Utilization of Botanical Functional Ingredients, Hunan Agricultural University, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
Limei Pan: Guangxi Key Laboratory of for High-Quality Formation and Utilization of Dao-Di Herbs, National Center for TCM Inheritance and Innovation, Guangxi Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants, Nanning, China
Zhiguo Lu: College of Horticulture, National Research Center of Engineering Technology for Utilization of Botanical Functional Ingredients, Hunan Agricultural University, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
Yu Zhou: College of Horticulture, National Research Center of Engineering Technology for Utilization of Botanical Functional Ingredients, Hunan Agricultural University, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
Huan Zhao: School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; Corresponding authors.
Iain W. Wilson: CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
Ying Lu: College of Horticulture, National Research Center of Engineering Technology for Utilization of Botanical Functional Ingredients, Hunan Agricultural University, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
Lina Zhu: College of Horticulture, National Research Center of Engineering Technology for Utilization of Botanical Functional Ingredients, Hunan Agricultural University, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
Yao Zhang: College of Horticulture, National Research Center of Engineering Technology for Utilization of Botanical Functional Ingredients, Hunan Agricultural University, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
Xinghui Liu: College of Horticulture, National Research Center of Engineering Technology for Utilization of Botanical Functional Ingredients, Hunan Agricultural University, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
Ya Qin: Guangxi Key Laboratory of for High-Quality Formation and Utilization of Dao-Di Herbs, National Center for TCM Inheritance and Innovation, Guangxi Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants, Nanning, China
Deyou Qiu: State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China
Qi Tang: College of Horticulture, National Research Center of Engineering Technology for Utilization of Botanical Functional Ingredients, Hunan Agricultural University, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China; Corresponding authors.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 38
p. 100330

Abstract

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Uncaria rhynchophylla (Gouteng), as an evergreen woody vine belong to Rubiaceae family, is a traditional medicinal herb in China. Its terpenoid indole alkaloids (TIAs), which have good antidepressant and combined therapeutic effects on Alzheimer's disease, have attracted widespread attention. However, the content of TIAs is relatively low in U.rhynchophylla, which is unable to meet the growing market demand. The basic helix loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor family exists in all three eukaryotic kingdoms and can participate in regulating secondary metabolite pathways. So far, there has been no comprehensive analysis of the bHLH gene in U. rhynchophylla, and their role in TIAs is almost unknown. In this study, a total of 171 UrbHLH genes (UrbHLHs) were unevenly distributed on 22 chromosomes and divided into 23 subfamilies. In addition, the physicochemical properties of UrbHLHs were analyzed. Most UrbHLHs in each subgroup had similar gene structures and conserved motifs. Intraspecific collinearity analysis showed that UrbHLH1 may be related to the biosynthesis of TIAs. Subcellular localization experiments revealed that UrbHLH1 is located in the nucleus; Dual luciferase reporter gene analysis (Dual-LUC) showed that UrbHLH1 could activate the expression of UrG10H and Ur10HGO in the TIAs synthesis pathway of U. rhynchophylla. Finally, using yeast one hybrid (Y1H) it was found that the promoter regions of these two genes both have E-box binding elements, which can be bound by UrbHLH1 and produced strong interactions. Therefore, UrbHLH1 may participate in the synthesis of TIAs pathway. In conclusion, this study provides foundation data on the role of UrbHLH transcription factors in regulating TIAs of U. rhynchophylla.

Published in Current Plant Biology

ISSN: 2214-6628 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Science: Botany
Website: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/current-plant-biology/

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