Unveiling the spatial distribution and molecular mechanisms of terpenoid biosynthesis in Salvia miltiorrhiza and S. grandifolia using multi-omicsand DESI-MSI

Salvia miltiorrhiza and S.grandifolia are rich in diterpenoids and have therapeutic effects on cardiovascular diseases.In this study,the spatial distribution of diterpenoids in both species was analyzed by a combination of metabolomics and mass spectrometry imaging techniques.The results indicated that diterpenoids in S.miltiorrhiza were mainly abietane-type norditerpenoid quinones with a furan or dihydrofuran D-ring and were mainly distributed in the periderm of the roots,e.g.cryptotanshinone and tanshinone IIA.The compounds in S.grandifolia were mainly phenolic abietane-type tricyclic diterpenoids with six-or seven-membered C-rings,and were widely distributed in the periderm,phloem,and xylem of the roots,e.g.11-hydroxy-sugiol,11,20-dihydroxy-sugiol,and 11,20-dihydroxy-ferruginol.In addition,the leaves of S.grandifolia were rich in tanshinone biosynthesis precursors,such as 11-hydroxy-sugiol,while those of S.miltiorrhiza were rich in phenolic acids.Genes in the upstream pathway of tanshinone biosynthesis were highly expressed in the root of S.grandifolia,and genes in the downstream pathway were highly expressed in the root of S.miltiorrhiza.Here,we describe the specific tissue distributions and mechanisms of diterpenoids in two Salvia species,which will facilitate further investigations of the biosynthesis of diterpenoids in plant synthetic biology.

Exploring the potential mechanisms of luteolin against ulcerative colitis and colorectal cancer via network pharmacology and molecular docking

Background:Patients diagnosed with ulcerative colitis(UC)are known to have an increased susceptibility to colorectal cancer(CRC).However,the shared underlying mechanisms between UC and CRC remain unclear.Given the therapeutic potential of luteolin in both UC and CRC,this study aims to elucidate the molecular targets and mechanisms through which luteolin exerts its effects against these diseases.Methods:The GeneCards database,DisGENet database,and Gene Expression Omnibus database were utilized to analyze the targets associated with UC and CRC.Subsequently,the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology and SwissTargetPrediction databases were employed to identify luteolin-related targets.The identified luteolin-related targets were then mapped to official gene symbols using the UniProt database.The Cytoscape 3.9.0 software was utilized to construct a network of luteolin-associated targets.Venn diagram analysis was performed to identify common targets among UC,CRC,and luteolin.The common targets were further analyzed using the STRING database to construct a protein-protein interaction network.The“cytoHubba”plugin in Cytoscape 3.9.0 was employed to identify hub targets within the PPI network.Gene Ontology functional analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis were conducted on the hub targets.Finally,molecular docking using AutoDock and PyMOL software was performed to assess the binding affinity between luteolin and the hub targets.Results:Luteolin was found to interact with a total of 149 pharmacological targets,while UC and CRC were associated with 1232 and 3278 targets,respectively.Forty-six common targets were identified among luteolin,UC,and CRC.Through the application of seven different algorithms,seven hub targets were identified,TP53,AKT1,TNF,SRC,EGFR,and MMP9.Bioinformatics enrichment analysis revealed 49 enriched pathways through Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis,while Gene Ontology analysis yielded a total of 245 biological processes,4 cellular components,and 7 molecular functions.Molecular docking simulations demonstrated a good binding affinity between luteolin and the hub targets.Conclusion:This study identified multiple potential pharmacological targets and elucidated various biological pathways through which luteolin may exert its therapeutic effects in the treatment of UC and CRC.These findings provide a solid theoretical foundation for further experimental investigations in the treatment of UC and CRC.

The ERF transcription factor LTF1 activates DIR1 to control stereoselective synthesis of antiviral lignans and stress defense in Isatis indigotica roots

Lignans are a powerful weapon for plants to resist stresses and have diverse bioactive functions to protect human health.Elucidating the mechanisms of stereoselective biosynthesis and response to stresses of lignans is important for the guidance of plant improvement.Here,we identified the complete pathway to stereoselectively synthesize antiviral(-)-lariciresinol glucosides in Isatis indigotica roots,which consists of three-step sequential stereoselective enzymes DIR1/2,PLR,and UGT71B2.DIR1 was further identified as the key gene in respoJanuary 2024nse to stresses and was able to trigger stress defenses by mediating the elevation in lignan content.Mechanistically,the phytohormone-responsive ERF transcription factor LTF1 colocalized with DIR1 in the cell periphery of the vascular regions in mature roots and helped resist biotic and abiotic stresses by directly regulating the expression of DIR1.These systematic results suggest that DIR1 as the first common step of the lignan pathway cooperates with PLR and UGT71B2 to stereoselectively synthesize(-)-lariciresinol derived antiviral lignans in I.indigotica roots and is also a part of the LTF1-mediated regulatory network to resist stresses.In conclusion,the LTF1-DIR1 module is an ideal engineering target to improve plant Defenses while increasing the content of valuable lignans in plants.

Germplasm resources and secondary metabolism regulation in Reishi mushroom(Ganoderma lucidum)

Ganoderma lucidum is a valuable medical macrofungus with a myriad of diverse secondary metabolites,in which triterpenoids are the major constituents.This paper introduced the germplasm resources of genus Ganoderma from textual research,its distribution and identification at the molecular level.Also we overviewed G.lucidum in the components,the biological activities and biosynthetic pathways of ganoderic acid,aiming to provide scientific evidence for the development and utilization of G.lucidum germplasm resources and the biosynthesis of ganoderic acid.

Magnesium deficiency in plants:An urgent problem

Although magnesium(Mg) is one of the most important nutrients, involved in many enzyme activities and the structural stabilization of tissues, its importance as a macronutrient ion has been overlooked in recent decades by botanists and agriculturists, who did not regard Mg deficiency(MGD) in plants as a severe health problem. However, recent studies have shown,surprisingly, that Mg contents in historical cereal seeds have markedly declined over time, and two thirds of people surveyed in developed countries received less than their minimum daily Mg requirement. Thus, the mechanisms of response to MGD and ways to increase Mg contents in plants are two urgent practical problems. In this review, we discuss several aspects of MGD in plants, including phenotypic and physiological changes, cell Mg2+homeostasis control by Mg2+transporters, MGD signaling, interactions between Mg2+and other ions, and roles of Mg2+in plant secondary metabolism. Our aim is to improve understanding of the influence of MGD on plant growth and development and to advance crop breeding for Mg enrichment.

Effects of cerous nitrate on growth and tanshinone production in salvia miltiorrhiza hairy roots

Salvia miltiorrhiza, a popular traditional Chinese medicine, is widely used for treatments in cardiotonic disease. Tanshinones are a group of bioactive ingredients in S. miltiorrhiza. In this study, Ce3+ was used as an elicitor to enhance tanshinones production in S. miltiorrhiza hairy roots. The results showed that contents of dihydrotanshinone I(DTI) and cryptotanshinone(CT) were significantly enhanced by 50 μmol/L Ce3+, and reached to 0.875 mg/g and 0.271 mg/g, respectively. However, tanshinone II A(TIIA) and tanshinone I(TI) contents were significantly decreased to 59% and 62% of the control. Simultaneously, expressions of genes(HMGR, DXR, DXS1, DXS2 and GGPPS) involved in tanshinone biosynthesis were upregulated by Ce3+. Responses of DXS1, DXS2 and GGPPS to Ce3+ treatments were later than HMGR and DXR. We speculated that branch pathways of DTI and CT biosynthesis were probably different from TIIA and TI. This work will help us understand biosynthetic mechanism of tanshinones in plants.

Two CYP82D Enzymes Function as Flavone Hydroxylases in the Biosynthesis of Root-Specific 4＇-Deoxyflavones in Scutellaria baicalensis

Baicalein， wogonin，和他们的 glycosides 是在药用的植物黄芩 baicalensis Georgi 发现的主要 bioactive 混合物。这些黄酮能在许多癌症房间线导致 apoptosis，但是没在正常房间上有效果。而且，他们为人的健康有许多另外的好处，例如抗氧化剂，抗病毒、肝保护的性质。这里，我们报导二 CYP450 酶， SbCYP82D1.1 和 SbCYP82D2 的隔离和描述，分别地，它在 S. 作为黄酮 6-hydroxylase (F6H ) 和黄酮 8-hydroxylase (F8H ) 工作 ? baicalensis。SbCYP82D1.1 为象 chrysin 和 apigenin 那样的黄酮有宽广底层特性并且在根和 S. 的天线部分为 baicalein 和 scutellarein 的生合成负责 ? baicalensis 分别地。当 SbCYP82D1.1 的表示被击倒时，当时， baicalin 和 baicalein 层次显著地被减少 chrysin glycosides 在毛乎乎的根积累。SbCYP82D2 是有高底层特性的 F8H，接受仅仅象它生产 norwogonin 的底层的 chrysin，尽管次要的 6-hydroxylation 活动能也被检测。种系发生的分析建议 SbCYP82D2 可能经由 neofunctionalization 跟随的基因复制从 SbCYP82D1.1 演变，祖先的 F6H 活动由此部分在导出的 SbCYP82D2 被保留。