title: Genome-wide characterisation and analysis of bHLH transcription factors related to tanshinone biosynthesis in Salvia miltiorrhiza.
abstract: Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Labiatae) is an emerging model plant for traditional medicine, and tanshinones are among the pharmacologically active constituents of this plant. Although extensive chemical and pharmaceutical studies of these compounds have been performed, studies on the basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors that regulate tanshinone biosynthesis are limited. In our study, 127 bHLH transcription factor genes were identified in the genome of S. miltiorrhiza, and phylogenetic analysis indicated that these SmbHLHs could be classified into 25 subfamilies. A total of 19 sequencing libraries were constructed for expression pattern analyses using RNA-Seq. Based on gene-specific expression patterns and up-regulated expression patterns in response to MeJA treatment, 7 bHLH genes were revealed as potentially involved in the regulation of tanshinone biosynthesis. Among them, the gene expression of SmbHLH37, SmbHLH74 and SmbHLH92 perfectly matches the accumulation pattern of tanshinone biosynthesis in S. miltiorrhiza. Our results provide a foundation for understanding the molecular basis and regulatory mechanisms of bHLH transcription factors in S. miltiorrhiza.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences &Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences &Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China.
authors.forename: Hongmei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences &Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China.
authors.forename: Zhichao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
authors.forename: Yingjie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences &Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China.
authors.forename: Aijia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.affiliation: 1] Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences &Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China [2] Chongqing Institute of Medicinal Plant Cultivation, Chongqing 408435, China.
authors.forename: Jingyuan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: 1] Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences &Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China [2] Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
authors.forename: Shilin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D045784:Abietanes / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000085:Acetates / Q000494:pharmacology; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D003517:Cyclopentanes / Q000494:pharmacology; D017343:Genes, Plant; D054883:Oxylipins / Q000494:pharmacology; D010802:Phylogeny; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D018749:RNA, Plant / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D027561:Salvia miltiorrhiza / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D017423:Sequence Analysis, RNA; D059467:Transcriptome / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D045784:Abietanes; D000085:Acetates; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D003517:Cyclopentanes; D054883:Oxylipins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D018749:RNA, Plant; C021751:tanshinone; C072239:methyl jasmonate