Comparative transcriptome analysis to identify putative genes involved in carvacrol biosynthesis pathway in two species of Satureja, endemic medicinal herbs of Iran.

Satureja is rich in phenolic monoterpenoids, mainly carvacrol, that is of interest due to diverse biological activities including antifungal and antibacterial. However, limited information is available regarding the molecular mechanisms underlying carvacrol biosynthesis and its regulation for this wonderful medicinal herb. To identify the putative genes involved in carvacrol and other monoterpene biosynthesis pathway, we generated a reference transcriptome in two endemic Satureja species of Iran, containing different yields (Satureja khuzistanica and Satureja rechingeri). Cross-species differential expression analysis was conducted between two species of Satureja. 210 and 186 transcripts related to terpenoid backbone biosynthesis were identified for S. khuzistanica and S. rechingeri, respectively. 29 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in terpenoid biosynthesis were identified, and these DEGs were significantly enriched in monoterpenoid biosynthesis, diterpenoid biosynthesis, sesquiterpenoid and triterpenoid biosynthesis, carotenoid biosynthesis and ubiquinone and other terpenoid-quinone biosynthesis pathways. Expression patterns of S. khuzistanica and S. rechingeri transcripts involved in the terpenoid biosynthetic pathway were evaluated. In addition, we identified 19 differentially expressed transcription factors (such as MYC4, bHLH, and ARF18) that may control terpenoid biosynthesis. We confirmed the altered expression levels of DEGs that encode carvacrol biosynthetic enzymes using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). This study is the first report on de novo assembly and transcriptome data analysis in Satureja which could be useful for an understanding of the main constituents of Satureja essential oil and future research in this genus.

Relationships among fourteen species of Satureja growing wild in Iran detected with molecular markers.

The genus Satureja is an important plant with a number of aromatic and medicinal properties. In this research, the relative efficiencies of amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and selectively amplified microsatellite polymorphic loci (SAMPL) were used to detect genetic relationships among 14 species of Satureja, growing wild in Iran. Eleven AFLP and 14 SAMPL primer combinations produced 999 and 1142 scorable bands, respectively, all of the fragments of which were found to be polymorphic. The average genetic similarity values based on Jaccard's coefficient were 0.24 and 0.21 for AFLP and SAMPL, respectively, indicating considerable distance and diversity in the studied germplasm. The correlation coefficients were statistically significant between both marker systems (r = 0.89). UPGMA derived from the combined binary data matrices of both markers depicted genetic distinctions among the studied species and clustered them into two main clusters and several groups. S. edmondi showed the maximum distance from other species and was placed into a single main cluster, while the maximum similarity was obtained between S. rechingeri and S. khuzistanica. Our results indicate that both marker systems are suitable for differentiating individuals and species of this genus.

Molecular genetic diversity of Satureja bachtiarica.

Fifty-seven genotypes from eight population of Satureja bachtiarica was evaluated using fifteen ISSR and eleven RAPD markers. DNA profiling using RAPD primers amplified 84 loci, among which 81 were polymorphic with an average of 7.36 polymorphic fragments per locus. Also, using RAPD markers maximum and minimum polymorphic bands observed for Semyrom (77.38 %) and Farsan (40.48 %) populations, respectively. Semyrom population recorded the highest unbiased expected heterozygosity (0.259) and Shannon's Indices (0.38). While, the lowest values of unbiased expected heterozygosity (0.172) and Shannon's Index (0.245) were recorded for Eghlid and Farsan populations, respectively. On the other hand, ISSR primers produced 136 bands, from which 134 were polymorphic with an average of 9.06 polymorphic fragments per primer (98.52 %). The ISSR markers evaluation revealed that maximum and minimum polymorphic bands observed for Semyrom (66.18 %) and Farsan (31.62 %), respectively. Shahrekorud population recorded the highest unbiased expected heterozygosity (0.211) and Shannon's Indices (0.301). While, the lowest value of unbiased expected heterozygosity (0.175) observed for Farsan and Yazd populations and the lowest Shannon's Index (0.191) recorded by Farsan population. The overall results of the study revealed that both ISSR and RAPD markers were effective for evaluation of genetic variation of S. bachtiarica.

Inhibition of the mevalonate pathway enhances carvacrol biosynthesis and DXR gene expression in shoot cultures of Satureja khuzistanica Jamzad.

Carvacrol is a major component of Satureja khuzistanica Jamzad (≤90%) that has significant antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Considering the specific capabilities of S. khuzistanica to produce highly pure carvacrol, this plant is an important potential source of carvacrol that could address the abundant consumption and increasing demand for this monoterpene in current world markets. This research was performed to better understand the process of biosynthesis and accumulation of carvacrol in S. khuzistanica. Tests were performed on shoot cultures of S. khuzistanica in Linsmaier-Skoog (LS) medium treated with different concentrations of fosmidomycin (an inhibitor of the non-mevalonate pathway) and mevinolin (an inhibitor of the mevalonate pathway) for 21 days at the following concentrations: 0, 10, 25, 50, 75 and 100 µM. The present study demonstrated that the MEP pathway is the major pathway that provides IPP for the biosynthesis of carvacrol, and the expression and activity levels of the DXR enzyme have a critical effect on carvacrol biosynthesis. Surprisingly, Mevinolin at concentrations of 75 and 100 µM increased the carvacrol content and the DXR activity and gene expression in S. khuzistanica plantlets.

Analysis of the genetic diversity and affinities of different Iranian Satureja species based on SAMPL markers.

The different species of the genus Satureja are known as "Marze Kohi" in Iran. Herbal drugs of these plants have long been used in traditional medicine, and some species are currently used in food and pharmaceutical industries. In the present work, the genetic diversity and affinities of several Satureja species were studied based on Selectively Amplified Microsatellite Polymorphic Loci (SAMPL) using five primer combinations. A total of 515 polymorphic DNA fragments were amplified, with a mean of 103 bands per assay. Among the species the maximum distance was observed between S. hortensis and S. Isophylla, while the maximum degree of similarity was obtained between S. rechingeri and S. khuzistanica. Cluster analysis was performed for all SAMPL data using the neighbor-joining method. All species for which multiple accessions were sampled were monophyletic with maximum bootstrap support. The investigated species were clustered in three main groups. In general, the relationships among Satureja species revealed by the cluster analysis were somewhat congruent with their geographical distributions.

Essential oil composition and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence variability of four South-Croatian Satureja species (Lamiaceae).

The purpose of this study was to compare the essential oil profiles of four South-Croatian Satureja species, as determined by GC/FID and GC/MS, with their DNA sequences for an internal transcribed spacer (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2) of the nuclear ribosomal DNA. A phylogenetic analysis showed that S. montana and S. cuneifolia, characterized by a similar essential oil composition, rich in the monoterpene hydrocarbon carvacrol, clustered together with high and moderate bootstrap support. On the contrary, S. subspicata and S. visianii, characterized by quite unique essential oil compositions, clustered together with the moderate bootstrap support. All four Croatian Satureja species clustered in one clade, separately from Macaronesian S. hortensis,although it had essential oil composition similar to that of S. montana and S. cuneifolia. This is the first report on the comparison between the phytochemical and DNA sequence data in Satureja species and useful contribution to the better understanding of interspecies relationships in this genus.