Relationship between expression of sesquiterpene synthase gene and sesquiterpene content in artificial agarwood induced by Fusarium sp. A2 / 中国药学杂志

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To explore the expression of sesquiterpene synthase (gene sesqui-TPS) and dynamic change of sesquiterpene content in the resin-deposited parts of the trunk of Aquilaria sinensis (Lour.) Gilg. induced by Fusarium sp. A2. METHODS: Artificial agarwoods from Aquilaria sinensis were induced by Fusarium sp. A2 using pinhole instillation. The heartwood of Aquilaria sinensis without or with resin were extracted before induction and at 7 time points within one year after induction. The expression of sesqui-TPS was detected by quantitative Real-time PCR. And then the dynamic change of sesquiterpene content in the tissues were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). RESULTS: The relative expression of sesqui-TPS gene in the artificial agarwoods induced by Fusarium sp. A2 from 2 to 12 months were 10.85, 0.793 1, 6.484, 611.4, 5 800, and 4 211 respectively. Sesquiterpene secondary metabolites were not detected in the trunk at 2 months before artificial induction. Fourteen sesquiterpene were detected from 4 to 12 months, with relative percentages of 21.40%, 25.52%, 36.44%, 32.40% and 55.70% at each time point. CONCLUSION: Sesqui-TPS gene is extremely sensitive to Fusarium sp. A2 treatment and responds to late damage. The expression of sesqui-TPS gene lags behind the accumulation of sesquiterpene component, which would provide a foundation for studies on regulation action of function gene for sesquiterpene biosynthase pathway during the formation of agarwood resin in A. sinensis.