Low Temperature Affects Fatty Acids Profiling and Key Synthesis Genes Expression Patterns in Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim.

Ming Chen,Yabing Chen,Jieyun Tian,Anzhi Wei,Lu Tian

doi:10.3390/ijms23042319

Ming Chen, Yabing Chen + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23042319

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Abstract

Zanthoxylum bungeanum is one of the most important medicinal and edible homologous plants because of its potential health benefits and unique flavors. The chemical components in compositions and contents vary with plant genotype variations and various environmental stress conditions. Fatty acids participate in various important metabolic pathways in organisms to resist biotic and abiotic stresses. To determine the variations in metabolic profiling and genotypes, the fatty acid profiling and key differential genes under low temperature stress in two Z. bungeanum varieties, cold-tolerant (FG) and sensitive (FX), were investigated. Twelve main fatty acids were found in two Z. bungeanum varieties under cold stress. Results showed that the contents of total fatty acids and unsaturated fatty acids in FG were higher than those in FX, which made FG more resistant to low temperature. Based on the result of orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis, palmitic acid, isostearic acid, linolenic acid and eicosenoic acid were the important differential fatty acids in FG under cold stress, while isomyristic acid, palmitic acid, isostearic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, linolenic acid and eicosenoic acid were the important differential fatty acids in FX. Furthermore, fatty acid synthesis pathway genes fatty acyl-ACP thioesterase A (FATA), Delta (8)-fatty-acid desaturase 2 (SLD2), protein ECERIFERUM 3 (CER3), fatty acid desaturase 3 (FAD3) and fatty acid desaturase 5 (FAD5) played key roles in FG, and SLD2, FAD5, 3-oxoacyl-[acyl-carrier-protein] synthase I (KAS I), fatty acyl-ACP thioesterase B (FATB) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) were the key genes responding to low temperature in FX. The variation and strategies of fatty acids in two varieties of Z. bungeanum were revealed at the metabolic and molecular level. This work provides a reference for the study of chemical components in plant stress resistance.

Highlights

Zanthoxylum is a tree genus of the Rutaceae family, which is widely cultivated in China, Japan, Korea and other eastern Asian countries [1]
The present work had the main aim of investigating the variation in fatty acid profiling in Z. bungeanum under low-temperature treatment
Twelve main fatty acids were detected in the leaves of two Z. bungeanum varieties: isomyristic acid, palmitic acid, palmitoleic acid, isostearic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, eicosanoic acid, eicosenoic acid, cetoleic acid and lignoceric acid

Summary

Introduction

Zanthoxylum is a tree genus of the Rutaceae family, which is widely cultivated in China, Japan, Korea and other eastern Asian countries [1]. Zanthoxylum bungeanum is popular in temperate and subtropical regions of China. The pericarps of Z. bungeanum are rich in alkamides and possess a unique numbing taste characteristic, which is indispensable in Sichuan hot pot and other foods [2]. The Z. bungeanum pericarps contain a lot of volatile oil, which can be extracted to make cosmetics. The sprouts of Z. bungeanum can be eaten in vegetable salads. Z. bungeanum is the dominating species widely planted in China. The Z. bungeanum tree likes light and warm temperatures, and needs higher temperatures during its growth and development. Z. bungeanum often suffers from late spring cold, which seriously affects its growth and development

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