Metabolomic and transcriptomic reveal flavonoid biosynthesis and regulation mechanism in Phlomoides rotata from different habitats

Zuxia Li; Guigong Geng; Huichun Xie; Lianyu Zhou; Luhao Wang; Feng Qiao

doi:10.1016/j.ygeno.2024.110850

Metabolomic and transcriptomic reveal flavonoid biosynthesis and regulation mechanism in Phlomoides rotata from different habitats

Genomics. 2024 Apr 27;116(3):110850. doi: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2024.110850. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Zuxia Li¹, Guigong Geng², Huichun Xie³, Lianyu Zhou³, Luhao Wang¹, Feng Qiao⁴

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Medicinal Plant and Animal Resources, School of Life Sciences, Qinghai Normal University, Xining 810008, China.
² Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China.
³ Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Medicinal Plant and Animal Resources, School of Life Sciences, Qinghai Normal University, Xining 810008, China; Academy of Plateau Science and Sustainability, Qinghai Normal University, Xining 810008, China.
⁴ Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Medicinal Plant and Animal Resources, School of Life Sciences, Qinghai Normal University, Xining 810008, China; Academy of Plateau Science and Sustainability, Qinghai Normal University, Xining 810008, China. Electronic address: qiaofnm@163.com.

PMID: 38685286
DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2024.110850

Abstract

Phlomoides rotata is a traditional medical plant at 3100-5200 m altitude in the Tibet Plateau. In this study, flavonoid metabolites were investigated in P. rotata from Henan County (HN), Guoluo County (GL), Yushu County (YS), and Chengduo County (CD) habitats in Qinghai. The level of kaempferol 3-neohesperidoside, sakuranetin, and biochanin A was high in HN. The content of limocitrin and isoquercetin was high in YS. The levels of ikarisoside A and chrysosplenol D in GL were high. Schaftoside, miquelianin, malvidin chloride, and glabrene in CD exhibited high levels. The results showed a significant correlation between 59 flavonoids and 29 DEGs. Eleven flavonoids increased with altitude. PAL2, UFGT6, COMT1, HCT2, 4CL4, and HCT3 genes were crucial in regulating flavonoid biosynthesis. Three enzymes CHS, 4CL, and UFGT, were crucial in regulating flavonoid biosynthesis. This study provided biological and chemical evidence for the different uses of various regional plants of P. rotata.

Keywords: Flavonoid metabolism; Phlomoides rotata; Transcriptome; Untargeted metabolome.