RESUMEN
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a medicinal plant from the Asteracea which biosynthesize different secondary metabolites especially terpenes and phenylpropanoids. To improve our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms behind the biosynthesis of these compounds we analyzed the expression of some genes associated with the biosynthesis of terpenes and phenylpropanoids in different tissues and in response to trans-cinnamic acid (tCA) as an inhibitor of PAL activity. Isolation and expression analysis of DXR, GPPS, PAL and CHS genes together with linalool synthase (LIS) as monoterpene synthase was conducted in different developmental stages of leaves, flowers and in response to trans-cinnamic acid (tCA). Differential expression of these genes observed in different tissues. tCA up-regulated the biosynthetic genes of monterpenes and down-regulated the biosynthetic genes of phenylpropanoids. Gene expression analysis in intact leaves and leaves without glandular trichomes showed that DXR, LIS, PAL and CHS are highly expressed in glandular trichomes while GPPS expressed ubiquitously. Analysis of essential oils composition showed that sesquiterpenes and monoterpenes are main compounds; in which from 57 identified compounds the highest were germacreneD (% 11.5), guaiol (%10.38), spatulenol (%8.73) and caryophyllene oxide (%7.48).
Asunto(s)
Achillea/genética , Achillea/metabolismo , Fenilpropionatos/metabolismo , Proteínas de Plantas/genética , Terpenos/metabolismo , Achillea/química , Achillea/efectos de los fármacos , Aciltransferasas/genética , Aciltransferasas/metabolismo , Isomerasas Aldosa-Cetosa/genética , Isomerasas Aldosa-Cetosa/metabolismo , Vías Biosintéticas , Cinamatos/farmacología , Farnesiltransferasa/genética , Farnesiltransferasa/metabolismo , Flores/genética , Flores/crecimiento & desarrollo , Cromatografía de Gases y Espectrometría de Masas , Regulación de la Expresión Génica de las Plantas , Hidroliasas/genética , Hidroliasas/metabolismo , Hojas de la Planta/genética , Hojas de la Planta/crecimiento & desarrollo , Hojas de la Planta/metabolismo , Proteínas de Plantas/metabolismo , Tricomas/genética , Tricomas/metabolismoRESUMEN
Digitalis nervosa is an important medicinal plant species belonging to the family of Scrophulariaceae that has the potential to be used for heart failure. 3ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3ß-HSD) is a key gene in the biosynthesis of cardenolides for making digitalis effective compounds, hence identification of this gene is important for genetic engineering purposes towards increasing the yield of cardiac glycosides. In addition, mRNA-like non-coding RNAs (mlncRNAs), a class of long non coding RNAs, play key roles in various biological processes and may affect cardenolides pathway in digitalis plants. In the present work, full sequence of 3ß-HSD was isolated from Digitalis nervosa. Gene expression patterns of 3ß-HSD along with three mlncRNAs including mlncRNA23, mlncRNA28 and mlncRNA30 were studied and the results indicated that they are differentially expressed in different tissues including roots, stems and leaves, with the highest expression levels in leaves. Moreover, the transcript levels of these genes affected by the cold and drought stresses. The results obtained from the present study is important in order to understand the potential role of mlncRNAs in digitalis plants, especially in response to abiotic stresses.
Asunto(s)
17-Hidroxiesteroide Deshidrogenasas/genética , Digitalis/enzimología , Digitalis/genética , Perfilación de la Expresión Génica , Regulación de la Expresión Génica de las Plantas , ARN Largo no Codificante/genética , Estrés Fisiológico/genética , 17-Hidroxiesteroide Deshidrogenasas/química , 17-Hidroxiesteroide Deshidrogenasas/metabolismo , Secuencia de Aminoácidos , Secuencia de Bases , Vías Biosintéticas/genética , Cardenólidos/química , Cardenólidos/metabolismo , Frío , Digitalis/fisiología , Sequías , Especificidad de Órganos/genética , ARN Largo no Codificante/metabolismo , ARN Mensajero/genética , ARN Mensajero/metabolismoRESUMEN
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) is known to produce a variety of phenolic monoterpenes such as thymol and carvacrol. Thymol and carvacrol are health-promoting, biocide and antitoxin compounds and have been considered as the main constituents of essential oils in T. vulgaris. To improve our understanding of the regulation of monoterpene biosynthesis in thyme, the expression of genes related to thymol and carvacrol biosynthesis in different tissues and in response to abiotic elicitors was analyzed. Methyl jasmonate (MeJA), salicylic acid (SA), trans-cinnamic acid (tCA) and UV-C irradiation were applied to T. vulgare leaves and transcript levels of early (DXR) and late (TvTPS1, CYP71D178 and CYP71D180) biosynthetic genes of thymol and carvacrol were measured. The results showed that early step and late step genes in thymol/carvacrol biosynthesis are differentially regulated. DXR was not found to be exclusively expressed in glandular trichomes; in contrast, biosynthetic genes including γ-terpinene synthase (TvTPS1) and two cytochrome P450s, CYP71D178 and CYP71D180, were preferentially expressed in glandular secretory trichomes. The high expression of late biosynthetic genes in glandular trichomes, which also contain the highest concentration of thymol and carvacrol, suggests that glandular trichomes are the structure in which thymol/carvacrol biosynthesis and accumulation occur. Our results indicate that in addition to abiotic elicitors, developmental and spatial factors also play a key role in the biosynthesis of thymol and carvacrol, most likely relating to glandular trichome density and/or activity. Hence optimization of these factors could be considered as a useful strategy to achieve high yield of valuable compounds in T. vulgare or other closely related plant species.
Asunto(s)
Regulación de la Expresión Génica de las Plantas/efectos de los fármacos , Monoterpenos/metabolismo , Timol/metabolismo , Thymus (Planta)/metabolismo , Cimenos , Flores/metabolismo , Regulación Enzimológica de la Expresión Génica/fisiología , Estructura Molecular , Monoterpenos/química , Hojas de la Planta/metabolismo , Proteínas de Plantas/genética , Proteínas de Plantas/metabolismo , Estrés Fisiológico , Timol/química , Transcriptoma , Tricomas/fisiologíaRESUMEN
Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) is a perennial medicinal herb and is a rich source of sesquiterpene lactones. Parthenolide is the main sesquiterpene lactone in feverfew and has attracted attention because of its medicinal potential for treatment of migraine and cancer. In the present work the parthenolide content in different tissues and developmental stages of feverfew was analyzed to study the timing and localization of parthenolide biosynthesis. The strongest accumulating tissue was subsequently used to isolate sesquiterpene synthases with the goal to isolate the gene encoding the first dedicated step in parthenolide biosynthesis. This led to the isolation and charachterization of a germacrene A synthase (TpGAS) and an (E)-ß-caryophyllene synthase (TpCarS). Transcript level patterns of both sesquiterpene synthases were analyzed in different tissues and glandular trichomes. Although TpGAS was expressed in all aerial tissues, the highest expression was observed in tissues that contain high concentrations of parthenolide and in flowers the highest expression was observed in the biosynthetically most active stages of flower development. The high expression of TpGAS in glandular trichomes which also contain the highest concentration of parthenolide, suggests that glandular trichomes are the secretory tissues where parthenolide biosynthesis and accumulation occur.
Asunto(s)
Transferasas Alquil y Aril/metabolismo , Antiinflamatorios no Esteroideos/metabolismo , Extractos Vegetales/química , Sesquiterpenos/metabolismo , Tanacetum parthenium/metabolismo , Transferasas Alquil y Aril/genética , Secuencia de Aminoácidos , Antiinflamatorios no Esteroideos/análisis , ADN Complementario/genética , Escherichia coli/genética , Escherichia coli/metabolismo , Flores/genética , Frutas/genética , Regulación del Desarrollo de la Expresión Génica , Regulación de la Expresión Génica de las Plantas , Especificidad de Órganos , Filogenia , Hojas de la Planta/genética , Proteínas de Plantas/genética , Proteínas de Plantas/metabolismo , Raíces de Plantas/genética , Tallos de la Planta/genética , Plantas Medicinales , ARN Mensajero/genética , ARN de Planta/genética , Proteínas Recombinantes/genética , Proteínas Recombinantes/metabolismo , Alineación de Secuencia , Sesquiterpenos/análisis , Tanacetum parthenium/química , Tanacetum parthenium/enzimología , Tanacetum parthenium/crecimiento & desarrolloRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: Postpartum depression is a common complication of childbirth, and its prevention is an important public-health issue because of its negative effects on mother, infant, and family. The present randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted to examine the effect of prenatal selenium supplementation on the postpartum depression level in Iranian women. DESIGN: A total of 166 primigravid pregnant women in the first trimester of pregnancy, were randomized to receive 100 µg of selenium (n = 83) or a placebo (n = 83) per day until delivery. The symptoms of postpartum depression were evaluated during the eight weeks following delivery by means of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Serum selenium concentrations were measured at baseline and at the end of study. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in demographic characteristics and perceived social support between the selenium and control groups at baseline (p > 0.05). There were 22 drop-outs in the selenium-supplemented group and 19 in the placebo group. Forty-four women in the selenium group and 41 women in the placebo group completed the trial and the EPDS questionnaire. Selenium supplementation was associated with a significant increase in mean serum selenium concentration at term (p < 0.001) but remained unchanged in the control group. The mean EPDS score in the selenium group was significantly lower than that of the control group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that supplementation with selenium during pregnancy might be an effective approach for the prevention of postpartum depression.