Accumulation of Rutin and Betulinic Acid and Expression of Phenylpropanoid and Triterpenoid Biosynthetic Genes in Mulberry (Morus alba L.).
Mulberry (Morus alba L.) is used in traditional Chinese medicine and is the sole food source of the silkworm. Here, 21 cDNAs encoding phenylpropanoid biosynthetic genes and 21 cDNAs encoding triterpene biosynthetic genes were isolated from mulberry. The expression levels of genes involved in these biosynthetic pathways and the accumulation of rutin, betulin, and betulinic acid, important secondary metabolites, were investigated in different plant organs. Most phenylpropanoid and triterpene biosynthetic genes were highly expressed in leaves and/or fruit, and most genes were downregulated during fruit ripening. The accumulation of rutin was more than fivefold higher in leaves than in other organs, and higher levels of betulin and betulinic acid were found in roots and leaves than in fruit. By comparing the contents of these compounds with gene expression levels, we speculate that MaUGT78D1 and MaLUS play important regulatory roles in the rutin and betulin biosynthetic pathways.
Department of Crop Science, Chungnam National University , 99 Daehak-Ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-764, Korea.
Shicheng
S
Zhao
Department of Crop Science, Chungnam National University , 99 Daehak-Ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-764, Korea.
Chang Ha
CH
Park
Department of Crop Science, Chungnam National University , 99 Daehak-Ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-764, Korea.
Xiaohua
X
Li
Department of Herbal Crop Research, National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, Rural Development Administration , Bisanro 92, Eumseong, Chungbuk, 369-873, Korea.
Yeon Bok
YB
Kim
State Key Laboratory of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, Northeast Forestry University , 26 Hexing Road, Harbin 150040, China.
Jingli
J
Yang
Department of Agricultural Biology, National Academy of Agricultural Science, Rural Development Administration , Wanju 565-851, Korea.
Gyoo Byung
GB
Sung
Deptartment of Plant Science, Gangneung-Wonju National University 7 Jukheon-gil , Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do 210-702, Korea.
Nam Il
NI
Park
Biological and Genetic Resources Assessment Division, National Institute of Biological Resources , Incheon 404-170, Korea.
Soonok
S
Kim
Department of Crop Science, Chungnam National University , 99 Daehak-Ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-764, Korea.
Sang Un
SU
Park
D053898:Biosynthetic Pathways; D005638:Fruit / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D031625:Morus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D053978:Pentacyclic Triterpenes; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012431:Rutin / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000378:metabolism*; D000094062:Betulinic Acid
D053978:Pentacyclic Triterpenes; D010940:Plant Proteins; D014315:Triterpenes; D012431:Rutin; D000094062:Betulinic Acid
betulin; betulinic acid; gene expression; mulberry; rutin