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Fang R, Zou A, Zhao H, Wu F, Zhu Y, Zhao H, Liao Y, Tang RJ, Pang Y, Yang R, Wang X, Qi J, Lu G, Yang Y. Transgenic studies reveal the positive role of LeEIL-1 in regulating shikonin biosynthesis in Lithospermum erythrorhizon hairy roots. BMC Plant Biol 2016; 16:121. [PMID: 27230755 PMCID: PMC4880835 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-016-0812-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2015] [Accepted: 05/18/2016] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The phytohormone ethylene (ET) is a key signaling molecule for inducing the biosynthesis of shikonin and its derivatives, which are secondary metabolites in Lithospermum erythrorhizon. Although ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE3 (EIN3)/EIN3-like proteins (EILs) are crucial transcription factors in ET signal transduction pathway, the possible function of EIN3/EIL1 in shikonin biosynthesis remains unknown. In this study, by targeting LeEIL-1 (L. erythrorhizon EIN3-like protein gene 1) at the expression level, we revealed the positive regulatory effect of LeEIL-1 on shikonin formation. RESULTS The mRNA level of LeEIL-1 was significantly up-regulated and down-regulated in the LeEIL-1-overexpressing hairy root lines and LeEIL-1-RNAi hairy root lines, respectively. Specifically, LeEIL-1 overexpression resulted in increased transcript levels of the downstream gene of ET signal transduction pathway (LeERF-1) and a subset of genes for shikonin formation, excretion and/or transportation (LePAL, LeC4H-2, Le4CL-1, HMGR, LePGT-1, LeDI-2, and LePS-2), which was consistent with the enhanced shikonin contents in the LeEIL-1-overexpressing hairy root lines. Conversely, LeEIL-1-RNAi dramatically repressed the expression of the above genes and significantly reduced shikonin production. CONCLUSIONS The results revealed that LeEIL-1 is a positive regulator of the biosynthesis of shikonin and its derivatives in L. erythrorhizon hairy roots. Our findings gave new insights into the molecular regulatory mechanism of ET in shikonin biosynthesis. LeEIL-1 could be a crucial target gene for the genetic engineering of shikonin biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rongjun Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, NJU-NJFU Joint Institute of Plant Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210046, People's Republic of China
- Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, 212003, People's Republic of China
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, People's Republic of China
| | - Ailan Zou
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, NJU-NJFU Joint Institute of Plant Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210046, People's Republic of China
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, People's Republic of China
| | - Hua Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, NJU-NJFU Joint Institute of Plant Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210046, People's Republic of China
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, People's Republic of China
| | - Fengyao Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, NJU-NJFU Joint Institute of Plant Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210046, People's Republic of China
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, NJU-NJFU Joint Institute of Plant Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210046, People's Republic of China
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, People's Republic of China
| | - Hu Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, NJU-NJFU Joint Institute of Plant Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210046, People's Republic of China
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, People's Republic of China
| | - Yonghui Liao
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, NJU-NJFU Joint Institute of Plant Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210046, People's Republic of China
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, People's Republic of China
| | - Ren-Jie Tang
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Yanjun Pang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, NJU-NJFU Joint Institute of Plant Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210046, People's Republic of China
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, People's Republic of China
| | - Rongwu Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, NJU-NJFU Joint Institute of Plant Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210046, People's Republic of China
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoming Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, NJU-NJFU Joint Institute of Plant Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210046, People's Republic of China
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinliang Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, NJU-NJFU Joint Institute of Plant Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210046, People's Republic of China.
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, People's Republic of China.
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
| | - Guihua Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, NJU-NJFU Joint Institute of Plant Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210046, People's Republic of China.
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yonghua Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, NJU-NJFU Joint Institute of Plant Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210046, People's Republic of China.
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, People's Republic of China.
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