title: Metabolic engineering of terpene biosynthesis in plants using a trichome-specific transcription factor MsYABBY5 from spearmint (Mentha spicata).
abstract: In many aromatic plants including spearmint (Mentha spicata), the sites of secondary metabolite production are tiny specialized structures called peltate glandular trichomes (PGT). Having high commercial values, these secondary metabolites are exploited largely as flavours, fragrances and pharmaceuticals. But, knowledge about transcription factors (TFs) that regulate secondary metabolism in PGT remains elusive. Understanding the role of TFs in secondary metabolism pathway will aid in metabolic engineering for increased yield of secondary metabolites and also the development of new production techniques for valuable metabolites. Here, we isolated and functionally characterized a novel MsYABBY5 gene that is preferentially expressed in PGT of spearmint. We generated transgenic plants in which MsYABBY5 was either overexpressed or silenced using RNA interference (RNAi). Analysis of the transgenic lines showed that the reduced expression of MsYABBY5 led to increased levels of terpenes and that overexpression decreased terpene levels. Additionally, ectopic expression of MsYABBY5 in Ocimum basilicum and Nicotiana sylvestris decreased secondary metabolite production in them, suggesting that the encoded transcription factor is probably a repressor of secondary metabolism.
authors: Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, 1 Research Link, National University of Singapore, Singapore City, Singapore.
authors: Qian
authors: Q
authors: Wang
authors: Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, 1 Research Link, National University of Singapore, Singapore City, Singapore.|Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore City, Singapore.
authors: Vaishnavi Amarr
authors: VA
authors: Reddy
authors: Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, 1 Research Link, National University of Singapore, Singapore City, Singapore.
authors: Deepa
authors: D
authors: Panicker
authors: Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, 1 Research Link, National University of Singapore, Singapore City, Singapore.
authors: Hui-Zhu
authors: HZ
authors: Mao
authors: Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, 1 Research Link, National University of Singapore, Singapore City, Singapore.
authors: Nadimuthu
authors: N
authors: Kumar
authors: Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, 1 Research Link, National University of Singapore, Singapore City, Singapore.
authors: Chakravarthy
authors: C
authors: Rajan
authors: Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, 1 Research Link, National University of Singapore, Singapore City, Singapore.
authors: Prasanna Nori
authors: PN
authors: Venkatesh
authors: Laboratory of Plant Molecular Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA.
authors: Nam-Hai
authors: NH
authors: Chua
authors: Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, 1 Research Link, National University of Singapore, Singapore City, Singapore.
authors: Rajani
authors: R
authors: Sarojam
mesh_terms: D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D031337:Mentha spicata / Q000235:genetics*; D060847:Metabolic Engineering; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways / Q000235:genetics; D018649:Ocimum basilicum / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000378:metabolism; D034622:RNA Interference; D013729:Terpenes / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D064201:Trichomes / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010940:Plant Proteins; D013729:Terpenes; D014157:Transcription Factors
keywords: YABBY; secondary metabolism; spearmint; sweet basil; terpene; transcription factor