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Transcriptional Regulatory Mechanism of Differential Metabolite Formation in Root and Stem of Ephedra sinica

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Abstract

Ephedra sinica, a well-known Chinese medicinal plant, is characterized as having the opposite medicinal effect among its root and stem. However, there is a lack of understanding to differentiate the active components present in the root and stem of E. sinica, as well as the molecular mechanisms underlying the formation of the differential compounds, which has significantly hampered the further development and utilization of E. sinica resource. In this study, forty-five differential metabolic markers are affiliated to alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, and organic acids between root and stem of E. sinica, and sixty genes of key enzymes are involved in their biosynthesis distributed in metabolic pathway branches such as phenylalanine metabolism, flavonoid biosynthesis and phenylpropane biosynthesis, based on combination non-targeted metabolome with transcriptome technologies. The finding revealed that the expression activity changes of these enzyme genes had a direct impact on the distinction of differential metabolic markers in the root and stem of E. sinica. This study will help to understand the molecular mechanism of the differentiation and biosynthesis of the primary active metabolites in the root and stem of E. sinica, providing a theoretical foundation for its quality control and promotion in cultivation.

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All data generated during this study have been incorporated in this article.

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Funding

This work was financially supported by the Basic Research Program of Shanxi Province (20210302123428), Research Project Supported by Shanxi Scholarship Council of China (2020–013), Fund Program for the Scientific Activities of Selected Returned Overseas Professionals in Shanxi Province (20220004) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31670328 and 31270383).

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Author notes

  1. Zhang-Xuan Guo and Xiao-Ke Li contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Applied Chemistry, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, Shanxi, China

    Zhang-Xuan Guo, Xiao-Ke Li, Jin-Long Cui, Shuang-Man Miao, Meng-Liang Wang & Jun-Hong Wang

  2. Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, Shanxi, China

    Zhang-Xuan Guo, Xiao-Ke Li & Shuang-Man Miao

  3. Department of Biological Science and Technology, Jinzhong University, Jinzhong, 030619, Shanxi, China

    Xiao-Ke Li

  4. Department of Biological Science and Technology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, Shanxi, China

    Muhammad Danial

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  1. Zhang-Xuan Guo
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  2. Xiao-Ke Li
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Contributions

Zhang-Xuan Guo, Xiao-Ke Li, and Shuang-Man Miao performed the experiments and drafted the manuscript. Jin-Long Cui conceived the project and revised the manuscript. Meng-Liang Wang, Jun-Hong Wang, and Muhammad Danial provided technology support and reviewed the manuscript. All the authors approved the final draft.

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Correspondence to Jin-Long Cui.

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Guo, ZX., Li, XK., Cui, JL. et al. Transcriptional Regulatory Mechanism of Differential Metabolite Formation in Root and Stem of Ephedra sinica. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 194, 5506–5521 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-022-04039-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-022-04039-8

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