title: Progressive regulation of sesquiterpene biosynthesis in Arabidopsis and Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin) by the miR156-targeted SPL transcription factors.
abstract: Plant metabolites vary at different stages of their life cycle. Although it is well documented that environmental factors stimulate biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, the regulation by endogenous developmental cues remains poorly understood. The microRNA156 (miR156)-targeted squamosa promoter binding protein-like (SPL) factors function as a major age cue in regulating developmental phase transition and flowering. We show here that the miR156-targeted SPL transcription factor plays an important role in the spatiotemporal regulation of sesquiterpene biosynthesis. In Arabidopsis thaliana, the miR156-SPL module regulates the formation of (E)-β-caryophyllene in the flowering stage through modulating expression of the sesquiterpene synthase gene TPS21. We demonstrated that SPL9 directly binds to TPS21 promoter and activates its expression. In the perennial fragrant herb Pogostemon cablin, the accumulation of patchouli oil, largely composed of sesquiterpenes dominated by (-)-patchoulol, is also age-regulated, and the SPL promotes biosynthesis of sesquiterpenes in elder plants by upregulating patchoulol synthase (PatPTS) gene expression. As miR156-SPLs are highly conserved in plants, our finding not only uncovers a molecular link between developmental timing and sesquiterpene production but also suggests a new strategy to engineer plants for accelerated growth with enhanced production of terpenoids.
authors.affiliation: Plant Science Research Center, Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Resources, Shanghai 201602, China; National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, National Plant Gene Research Center, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China; University of CAS, Beijing 100049, China; College of Bioengineering, Dalian University, Dalian 116622, China.
authors.forename: Zong-Xia
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, National Plant Gene Research Center, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China.
authors.forename: Ling-Jian
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, National Plant Gene Research Center, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China; University of CAS, Beijing 100049, China.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, National Plant Gene Research Center, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China; University of CAS, Beijing 100049, China.
authors.forename: Chun-Min
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Shan
authors.affiliation: Firmenich Aromatics (China) Co. Ltd., Shanghai 201108, China.
authors.forename: Yu-Hua
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Firmenich Aromatics (China) Co. Ltd., Shanghai 201108, China.
authors.forename: Dong-Fang
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Plant Science Research Center, Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Resources, Shanghai 201602, China; National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, National Plant Gene Research Center, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China. Electronic address: xychen@sibs.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Xiao-Ya
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000378:metabolism*; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D035683:MicroRNAs; C559759:Mirn156 microRNA, Arabidopsis; D010940:Plant Proteins; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D014157:Transcription Factors
keywords: Arabidopsis; PatPTS; Pogostemon cablin; TPS21; miR156 targeted SPLs; sesquiterpene biosynthesis