Newe Yaar Research Center, Agricultural Research Organization, P.O. Box 1021, Ramat, Israel.
Newe Yaar Research Center, Agricultural Research Organization, P.O. Box 1021, Ramat, Israel.
Phytochemistry. 2022 Oct;202:113318. doi: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2022.113318. Epub 2022 Jul 21.
Acorus calamus is a perennial aromatic medicinal plant from the Acorusaceae family, known for its pharmaceutical and medicinal value. A combined chemical, biochemical, and molecular study was conducted to evaluate the differential accumulation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in rhizomes and leaves of A. calamus essential oil. Here, we performed VOC profiling and transcriptome-based identification and functional characterization of terpene synthase (TPS) genes. A total of 110 VOCs were detected from the rhizomes and leaves of A. calamus, and some VOCs showed significant differences between them. The further transcriptome-based analysis led to the identification of six putative TPSs genes. In phylogenetic analysis, three TPSs belonged to the TPS-g clade, one to each of the TPS-a, TPS-c, and TPS-e clades. The heterologous E. coli-based expression of recombinant TPSs identified three genes (AcTPS3, AcTPS4, and AcTPS5) as bifunctional linalool/nerolidol synthase. The correlation of TPS gene expression and VOC metabolite profiles supported the function of these genes in A. calamus. Our findings provide a roadmap for future efforts to enhance the molecular mechanisms of terpene biosynthesis and our understanding of Acorus-insect interactions.
菖蒲是天南星科菖蒲属的一种多年生芳香药用植物，具有药用价值。本研究采用化学、生化和分子联合的方法，对菖蒲根茎和叶片精油中挥发性有机化合物（VOCs）的差异积累进行了评价。在此，我们对菖蒲根茎和叶片中的 VOC 进行了分析，并基于转录组对萜烯合酶（TPS）基因进行了鉴定和功能分析。从菖蒲的根茎和叶片中共检测到 110 种 VOC，其中一些 VOC 存在明显差异。进一步的基于转录组的分析导致鉴定出了 6 个推定的 TPS 基因。在系统发育分析中，三个 TPS 属于 TPS-g 分支，一个属于 TPS-a、TPS-c 和 TPS-e 分支。重组 TPS 在大肠杆菌中的异源表达鉴定出三个基因（AcTPS3、AcTPS4 和 AcTPS5）为芳樟醇/橙花叔醇合酶的双功能酶。TPS 基因表达与 VOC 代谢物谱的相关性支持了这些基因在菖蒲中的功能。我们的研究结果为进一步增强萜类生物合成的分子机制以及理解菖蒲与昆虫的相互作用提供了思路。
