Lei Zhenyu, Chang Hong, Song Li, Zhou Hongbing, Bai Wanfu, Bai Yingchun, Jiang Shuyuan, Shi Songli, Wang Jia
Department of Pharmacy, Baotou Medical College, Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, Baotou, China.
Institute of Bioactive Substance and Function of Chinese Materia Medica and Mongolian Medicine, Baotou Medical College, Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, Baotou, China.
Front Plant Sci. 2025 May 23;16:1597638. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2025.1597638. eCollection 2025.
is a traditional Chinese and Mongolian medicine and is quite effective in relieving cough and eliminating phlegm. In this study, ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) was used to perform metabolomics analysis, combined with transcriptomic sequencing, to study the samples of at early, middle and late growth stages. A comprehensive analysis was conducted to systematically investigate the dynamic changes and developmental trajectories of kernel progression across distinct growth stages, utilizing differential expression analysis and pathway enrichment approaches. A total of 104 significant differential metabolites were identified across different growth stages: the early growth stage (E), the middle growth stage (M), and the late growth stage (L). Specifically, 68 and 36 differential metabolites were detected in the comparisons of E vs. M and M vs. L, respectively. Among them, 29 and 21 metabolites exhibiting up-regulation. In comparison, 39 and 15 metabolites demonstrated down-regulation. Transcriptomic analysis identified 133 differentially expressed genes associated with 62 pathways in the E vs. M. Simultaneously, 14 differentially expressed genes linked to 13 pathways in the M vs. L. The accumulation of various metabolites varied across the growth stages, with a marked increase in amino acids during the middle and late developmental phases, alongside fluctuations in the levels of flavonoid compounds. In conclusion, the study reveals significant variations in the content and types of amino acid compounds and the expression levels of key genes within relevant pathways of kernels throughout different growth stages. Especially, the increase in flavonoid compound expression with advancing growth stages highlights their substantial medicinal potential. These findings provide a foundation for future developing and utilizing valuable medicinal ingredients in kernels.
是一种传统的中蒙药，在止咳祛痰方面颇为有效。在本研究中，采用超高效液相色谱 - 质谱联用（UPLC - MS）进行代谢组学分析，并结合转录组测序，对其在生长早期、中期和晚期的样本进行研究。利用差异表达分析和通路富集方法进行综合分析，系统地研究不同生长阶段内核发育进程的动态变化和发育轨迹。在不同生长阶段共鉴定出104种显著差异代谢物：生长早期（E）、生长中期（M）和生长晚期（L）。具体而言，在E与M的比较中检测到68种差异代谢物，在M与L的比较中检测到36种差异代谢物。其中，29种和21种代谢物表现出上调。相比之下，39种和15种代谢物表现出下调。转录组分析在E与M中鉴定出与62条通路相关的133个差异表达基因。同时，在M与L中鉴定出与13条通路相关的14个差异表达基因。不同生长阶段各种代谢物的积累情况各不相同，在发育中期和后期氨基酸显著增加，同时黄酮类化合物水平也有波动。总之，该研究揭示了在不同生长阶段，其内核中氨基酸化合物的含量和类型以及相关通路中关键基因的表达水平存在显著差异。特别是，黄酮类化合物表达随生长阶段推进而增加，凸显了其巨大的药用潜力。这些发现为未来开发和利用其内核中的珍贵药用成分奠定了基础。
