title: The jasmonate-responsive AP2/ERF transcription factors AaERF1 and AaERF2 positively regulate artemisinin biosynthesis in Artemisia annua L.
abstract: Plants of Artemisia annua produce artemisinin, a sesquiterpene lactone widely used in malaria treatment. Amorpha-4,11-diene synthase (ADS), a sesquiterpene synthase, and CYP71AV1, a P450 monooxygenase, are two key enzymes of the artemisinin biosynthesis pathway. Accumulation of artemisinin can be induced by the phytohormone jasmonate (JA). Here, we report the characterization of two JA-responsive AP2 family transcription factors--AaERF1 and AaERF2--from A. annua L. Both genes were highly expressed in inflorescences and strongly induced by JA. Yeast one-hybrid and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) showed that they were able to bind to the CRTDREHVCBF2 (CBF2) and RAV1AAT (RAA) motifs present in both ADS and CYP71AV1 promoters. Transient expression of either AaERF1 or AaERF2 in tobacco induced the promoter activities of ADS or CYP71AV1, and the transgenic A. annua plants overexpressing either transcription factor showed elevated transcript levels of both ADS and CYP71AV1, resulting in increased accumulation of artemisinin and artemisinic acid. By contrast, the contents of these two metabolites were reduced in the RNAi transgenic lines in which expression of AaERF1 or AaERF2 was suppressed. These results demonstrate that AaERF1 and AaERF2 are two positive regulators of artemisinin biosynthesis and are of great value in genetic engineering of artemisinin production.
authors: National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics and National Center for Plant Gene Research, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China.
authors: Zong-Xia
authors: ZX
authors: Yu
authors: Jian-Xu
authors: JX
authors: Li
authors: Chang-Qing
authors: CQ
authors: Yang
authors: Wen-Li
authors: WL
authors: Hu
authors: Ling-Jian
authors: LJ
authors: Wang
authors: Xiao-Ya
authors: XY
authors: Chen
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D031172:Artemisia annua / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D037621:Artemisinins / Q000378:metabolism*; D053898:Biosynthetic Pathways / Q000187:drug effects; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003517:Cyclopentanes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000187:drug effects; D054883:Oxylipins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000187:drug effects; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D037621:Artemisinins; D003517:Cyclopentanes; D054883:Oxylipins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C072239:methyl jasmonate; C031327:artemisinin