Biotechnology Bulletin ›› 2025, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (9): 207-218.doi: 10.13560/j.cnki.biotech.bull.1985.2025-0218

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Cloning of bHLH Transcription Factor UNE10 and Its Regulatory Roles in the Biosynthesis of Volatile Compounds in Clove Basil

WANG Bin1,2,3(), LIN Chong2, YUAN Xiao2,4, JIANG Yuan-yuan1,2,3, WANG Yu-kun1,2,3, XIAO Yan-hui1,2,3()   

  1. 1.Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Utilization and Conservation of Food and Medicinal Resources in Northern Region, Shaoguan University, Shaoguan 512005
    2.College of Biology and Agriculture, Shaoguan University, Shaoguan 512005
    3.Guangdong Provincial Engineering and Technology Research Center of Special Fruit and Vegetables in Northern Region/Engineering Technology Research Center of Shaoguan Aromatic Plant, Shaoguan 512005
    4.College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642
  • Received:2025-03-02 Online:2025-09-26 Published:2025-09-24
  • Contact: XIAO Yan-hui E-mail:b_wang@sgu.edu.cn;yhxiao@sgu.edu.cn

Abstract:

Objective bHLH transcription factors are key regulators in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites in aromatic plants. The investigation into the regulatory roles of the bHLH transcription factor UNE10 in the biosynthesis of volatile compounds in clove basil (Ocimum gratissimum) provides critical regulatory factors for fine-tuning the essential oil components of this plant. Method The bHLH family gene OgUNE10, which has significantly high expression in the leaves of clove basil, was identified. The coding sequence of OgUNE10 was amplified using PCR, followed by its overexpression in the leaves of clove basil through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation to assess its impacts on the biosynthesis of volatile compounds. Result OgUNE10 expression in clove basil demonstrated notable tissue specificity, with particularly high levels in the leaves. The OgUNE10 gene was successfully cloned from the leaves and encoded a protein consisting of 161 amino acid residues, featuring a conserved bHLH domain. This protein was localized in the nucleus and presented low homology with bHLH amino acid sequences from model plants. The overexpression of OgUNE10 in the leaves significantly affected the contents of major components in the essential oil of clove basil, resulting in an increase in eugenol content while decreasing the contents of estragole and methyl cinnamate. Furthermore, OgUNE10 overexpression led to significant upregulations on three PAL (phenylalanine ammonia lyase) and two MES (methylesterase) genes, but downregulations on one MTA (methyltransferases) gene, while also affecting the expression of six terpene synthase-related genes. Conclusion OgUNE10 regulates the biosynthesis of volatile compounds by integrating the phenylpropanoid pathway, MEP and MVA pathways in clove basil.

Key words: clove basil, volatile compounds, biosynthesis regulation, bHLH transcription factor, UNE subfamily