中国科学家完成博落回全基因组测序并解析苄基异奎宁类生物碱途径

Chinese Scientists Sequenced the Genome and Dissected the Benzylisoquinoline Alkaloids Pathway of Macleaya cordata

博落回(Macleaya cordata)是罂粟属的一种传统中药,因其富含具有抗菌功能的血根碱(SAN)和白屈菜红碱(CHE),可以作为牲畜抗菌生长促进剂的安全来源植物。中国科学家以博落回为材料,利用从头测序手段测定了首个罂粟属植物全基因组序列。研究人员通过组织特异性代谢谱及表达谱分析鉴定了博落回中16个参与血根碱和白屈菜红碱合成的候选基因,并结合同源克隆及饲喂实验对其中的14个基因进行了体外功能验证。上述研究为进一步探索博落回中血根碱等苄基异奎宁类生物碱(BIAs)合成、调控及后续合成奠定了基础,也为解析罂粟属其它植物的代谢途径提供了有力工具。

Macleaya cordata is a traditional Chinese medicinal plant species from the Papaveraceae family and is con- sidered a safe resource of antimicrobial feed additive for livestock for its production of antimicrobial-active constituents such as sanguinarine （SAN） and chelerythrine （CHE）. Chinese scientists reported the de novo whole-genome sequencing of M. cordata, the first to be sequenced from the Papaveraceae family. They then used the tissue-specific transcriptome and metabolic profiling data to identify 16 candidate genes involved in the biosynthesis of SAN and CHE. Homologous cloning and substrate-feeding experiments were then applied to verify the biochemical functions of the 14 candidates. This research set up the foundation for further improvement of the biosynthesis, regulation and biosynthetic chemistry of benzylisoquinoline alkaloids and also provides a powerful tool for the dissection of metabolic pathway（s） in other species from the Papaveraceae family.