Biotechnology Bulletin ›› 2022, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (5): 74-83.doi: 10.13560/j.cnki.biotech.bull.1985.2021-0981

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Biosynthesis of Panax notoginseng Saponins Regulated by R2R3-MYB Transcription Factor PnMYB1

LEI Jun1,2(), CHEN Qin1,2, DENG Bing1,2, ZHANG Jin-yu3, LIU Di-qiu1,2, CUI Xiu-ming1,2, GE Feng1,2()   

  1. 1. Faculty of Life Science and Technology,Kunming University of Science and Technology,Kunming 650500
    2. Yunnan Key Laboratory of Panax notoginseng Resources Sustainable Development and Utilization,Kunming 650500
    3. Institute of Medicinal Plant,Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences,Kunming 650205
  • Received:2021-08-02 Online:2022-05-26 Published:2022-06-10
  • Contact: GE Feng E-mail:353597247@qq.com;panaxcordyceps@163.com

Abstract:

This work aims to clarify the regulation role of transcription factor PnMYB1 to Panax notoginseng saponins(PNS)biosynthesis. RACE technique was applied to obtain the full length of PnMYB1 gene,the phylogenetic tree analysis of PnMYB1 were carried out. The plant overexpression vector of PnMYB1 was constructed and infected P. notoginseng cells,and the contents of ginsenosides R1,Rg1,Re,Rb1 and Rd in the transgenic P. notoginseng cells were detected. For instant expression analysis,tobacco leaves were co-transfected with PnMYB1 and the gene promoters of some key enzymes involved in the biosynthetic pathway of PNS,including squalene synthase(PnSS),squalene epoxidase(PnSE),dammarenediol synthase(PnDS)and cycloartenol synthase(PnCAS). The GUS expression system was employed to confirm whether PnMYB1 transcription factor interacted with the promoters of key enzyme genes in the biosynthetic pathway of PNS. The results showed that PnMYB1 transcription factors belonged to the R2R3-MYB family. In PnMYB1-overexpressed cells of P. notoginseng,5 important triterpenoid saponins increased to some extent in the transgenic cells. Further analysis confirmed that PnMYB1 significantly increased the expressions of PnSE and PnDS by activating the promoters of PnSE and PnDS,thus regulating the biosynthesis of PNS. In conclusion,PnMYB1 transcription factor may simultaneously regulate the expressions of two key enzyme genes involved in the biosynthesis of PNS and then affect its biosynthesis.

Key words: Panax notoginseng, saponins, transcription factor, triterpenoid