Transcriptome sequencing analysis of gene expression of flavonoid biosynthesis in Ginkgo biloba / 中草药

ABSTRACT

Objective The transcriptome sequencing was used to analyze the expression of key genes of flavonoid biosynthesis in different stages of growth and development of Ginkgo biloba. Methods The leaves of young trees and adult trees of G. biloba in different periods were used as the test material. Transcriptome sequencing analysis was carried out by using Illumina HiSeq 2000, and analyses of gene functional annotation of Unigene and expression characteristics of key genes for biosynthesis of G. biloba flavonoids were also performed. Results A total of 43 073 Unigene were obtained by transcriptome sequencing, of which 35 179 were annotated and 5 117 genes were screened by differential gene expression. Fifty candidate genes were screened by analyzing KEGG pathway related to flavonoid synthesis. The expression patterns of 50 candidate genes were analyzed. It was found that the key genes of flavonoid synthesis were all highly expressed in young leaves of G. biloba, but there was no significant difference in the leaves between adult and young trees at same time. The 13 genes closely related to the synthesis of flavonoids were analyzed. Among them, the expression of C4H, CHS, ANS, ANR, and FOMT genes was high, and the expression of F3’H, F3’5’H, and FLS genes was relatively low. Conclusion Through transcriptome sequencing, we screened and analyzed the key genes of flavonoid biosynthesis of G. biloba and their expression characteristics, which provided the theoretical basis of molecular pharmacology for improving the yield of ginkgo flavonoids.