Multi-omics analysis reveals promiscuous -glycosyltransferases involved in the diversity of flavonoid glycosides in (Apocynaceae).
Xiaotong Wang, Lan Wu, Wanran Zhang, Shi Qiu, Zhichao Xu, Huihua Wan, Jiang He, Wenting Wang, Mengyue Wang, Qinggang Yin, Yuhua Shi, Ranran Gao, Li Xiang, Weijun Yang
Author Information
Xiaotong Wang: Artemisinin Research Center, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
Lan Wu: Artemisinin Research Center, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
Wanran Zhang: Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Saline-alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration (Northeast Forestry University), Harbin 150006, China.
Shi Qiu: The SATCM Key Laboratory for New Resources & Quality Evaluation of Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.
Zhichao Xu: Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Saline-alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration (Northeast Forestry University), Harbin 150006, China.
Huihua Wan: Artemisinin Research Center, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
Jiang He: Xinjiang Institute of Materia Medica/Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Uygur Medicine, Urumqi 830004, China.
Wenting Wang: Artemisinin Research Center, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
Mengyue Wang: Artemisinin Research Center, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
Qinggang Yin: Artemisinin Research Center, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
Yuhua Shi: Artemisinin Research Center, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
Ranran Gao: Artemisinin Research Center, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
Li Xiang: Artemisinin Research Center, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
Weijun Yang: Xinjiang Institute of Materia Medica/Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Uygur Medicine, Urumqi 830004, China.
Flavonoid glycosides are widespread in plants, and are of great interest owing to their diverse biological activities and effectiveness in preventing chronic diseases. , a renowned medicinal plant of the Apocynaceae family, contains diverse flavonoid glycosides and is clinically used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and traumatic injuries. However, the mechanisms underlying the biosynthesis of these flavonoid glycosides have not yet been elucidated. In this study, we used widely targeted metabolomics and full-length transcriptome sequencing to identify flavonoid diversity and biosynthetic genes in . A total of 120 flavonoid glycosides, including 21 -, 96 -, and 3 -glycosides, were identified and annotated. Based on 24,123 full-length coding sequences, 99 uridine diphosphate sugar-utilizing glycosyltransferases (UGTs) were identified and classified into 14 groups. Biochemical assays revealed that four UGTs exhibited -glycosyltransferase activity toward apigenin and luteolin. Among them, PfUGT74B4 and PfUGT92A8 were highly promiscuous and exhibited multisite -glycosylation or consecutive glycosylation activities toward various flavonoid aglycones. These four glycosyltransferases may significantly contribute to the diversity of flavonoid glycosides in . Our findings provide a valuable genetic resource for further studies on and insights into the metabolic engineering of bioactive flavonoid glycosides.
