title: Dynamic metabolic and transcriptomic profiling of methyl jasmonate-treated hairy roots reveals synthetic characters and regulators of lignan biosynthesis in Isatis indigotica Fort.
abstract: A molecular description of lignan biosynthesis in Isatis indigotica displaying its synthetic characteristics and regulatory mechanism is of great importance for the improvement of the production of this class of active compounds. To discover the potential key catalytic steps and regulatory genes, I. indigotica hairy roots elicited by methyl jasmonate (MeJA) were used as a source of systematic variation for exploring the metabolic/transcriptional changes and candidate genes that might play key roles in lignan biosynthesis. The reprogramming modulated by MeJA was classified into three distinct phases, referred to as signal responding, transcriptional activation of metabolic pathways and accumulation of metabolites. Candidate genes were pooled according to the three phases and applied to co-expression network analysis. In total, 17 genes were identified as hub genes. 4CL3 was selected to validate its impact on lignan biosynthesis. RNAi of 4CL3 resulted in a significant reduction in lignan production. Taken together with its catalytic property, a major route of lignan biosynthesis in I. indigotica was highlighted, which was catalysed by 4CL3 via the esterization of caffeic acid. In conclusion, this study provides new insights into lignan biosynthesis as well as potential targets for metabolic engineering in I. indigotica.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.|Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Junfeng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Xun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Xiaofei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Hexin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Analysis and Testing Center, School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Langdong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Wansheng
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003517:Cyclopentanes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D031219:Isatis / Q000378:metabolism*; D017705:Lignans / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D055442:Metabolome; D054883:Oxylipins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators / Q000494:pharmacology; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D003517:Cyclopentanes; D017705:Lignans; D054883:Oxylipins; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators; C072239:methyl jasmonate
keywords: 
  Isatis indigotica
  ; co-expression network; lignan biosynthesis; metabolic profiling; transcriptomic profiling