Identification of WRKY Transcription Factors Related to Saikosaponin Biosynthesis in Adventitious Roots of Bupleurum chinense / 中草药·英文版

Objective To identify the genes of WRKY transcription factors (TFs) from roots of Bupleurum chinense and genes that potentially regulate saikosaponin (SS) biosynthesis. Methods Firstly, the subfamily cluster analysis was mainly based on Arabidopsis thaliana WRKYs for 27 putative WRKY TFs selected from previous transcriptome sequencing data. Secondly, qPCR was used to screen such genes of WRKY TFs that could be induced by NaCl and PEG6000 in adventitious roots of B. chinense. Meanwhile, saikosaponins (SSs) in treated adventitious roots were determined by HPLC. The roots were collected at 0, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h after treatments, and 120 h only for PEG. Finally, the tissue-specific expression was analyzed on screened genes by qPCR. Results The 27 genes were grouped into three categories: There were nine in Group I, 15 in Group II, and two in Group III. Four genes of WRKYTFs, BCWRKY6, BCWRKY16, BCWRKY32, and BCWRKY35 were obviously induced by NaCl in adventitious roots of B. chinense, while only BCWRKY32 was induced by PEG. The content of SSs increased at different levels in NaCl and PEG6000 treatment. Three genes including BCWRKY6, BCWRKY32, and BCWRKY35, expressed most in roots, were similar to the accumulation pattern of SS. Conclusion The three WRKY genes, BCWRKY6, BCWRKY32, and BCWRKY35, may be involved in the biosynthesis of SS.

Research progress on AP2/ERF transcription factors regulating biosynthesis of active ingredients in medicinal plants / 中草药

AP2/ERF transcription factors are widely present in plants. Each member of AP2/ERF family contains a much conserved DNA binding domain, AP2/EREBP binding domain, which is composed by about 60 amino acids. The studies about plant AP2/ERF transcription factors mainly focused on the developmental and physiological regulation function. In recent years, the function of regulating secondary metabolites is being concerned. Here the research progress on AP2/ERF regulating the biosynthesis of active ingredient of medicinal plants was reviewed, which could be used for reference in further studies on improving the accumulation of active ingredients in medicinal plants by applying metabolic engineering.