Molecular Characterization, Expression Analysis of Carotenoid, Xanthophyll, Apocarotenoid Pathway Genes, and Carotenoid and Xanthophyll Accumulation in Chelidonium majus L.

Ramaraj Sathasivam,Minsol Choi,Sang Un Park,Hyeon Ji Yeo,Chang Ha Park,Jae Kwang Kim,Haejin Kwon,Ji Eun Sim

doi:10.3390/plants10081753

Ramaraj Sathasivam, Minsol Choi + Show 6 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10081753

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Journal: Plants	Publication Date: Aug 23, 2021
Citations: 6	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Chungnam National University, Incheon National University

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Chelidonium majus L. is a perennial herbaceous plant that has various medicinal properties. However, the genomic information about its carotenoid biosynthesis pathway (CBP), xanthophyll biosynthesis pathway (XBP), and apocarotenoid biosynthesis pathway (ABP) genes were limited. Thus, the CBP, XBP, and ABP genes of C. majus were identified and analyzed. Among the 15 carotenoid pathway genes identified, 11 full and 4 partial open reading frames were determined. Phylogenetic analysis of these gene sequences showed higher similarity with higher plants. Through 3D structural analysis and multiple alignments, several distinct conserved motifs were identified, including dinucleotide binding motif, carotene binding motif, and aspartate or glutamate residues. Quantitative RT-PCR showed that CBP, XBP, and ABP genes were expressed in a tissue-specific manner; the highest expression levels were achieved in flowers, followed by those in leaves, roots, and stems. The HPLC analysis of the different organs showed the presence of eight different carotenoids. The highest total carotenoid content was found in leaves, followed by that in flowers, stems, and roots. This study provides information on the molecular mechanisms involved in CBP, XBP, and ABP genes, which might help optimize the carotenoid production in C. majus. The results could also be a basis of further studies on the molecular genetics and functional analysis of CBP, XBP, and ABP genes.

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Chelidonium majus belongs to the Papaveraceae family, and it is widely found worldwide, including Asia, Europe, North America, and Northern Africa [1]
This study showed that the highest transcription of carotenoid biosynthesis pathway (CBP), xanthophyll biosynthesis pathway (XBP), and apocarotenoid biosynthesis pathway (ABP) genes was found in flowers (Figure 5), whereas an increased carotenoid and xanthophyll content was achieved in the leaves of C. majus (Figure 6)
We identified and characterized seven CBP, five XBP, three ABP genes in C. majus, and among these, eleven genes possess a full open reading frame (ORF), whereas four genes had a partial ORF

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Introduction

Chelidonium majus belongs to the Papaveraceae family, and it is widely found worldwide, including Asia, Europe, North America, and Northern Africa [1]. The extract of C. majus has various antioxidant properties (elimination of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and protection from oxidative stress), with a wide range of medicinal properties such as analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-spasmodic, antitumor, antiviral, choleretic, and hepatoprotective properties [1,2,5,8,9,10,11,12]. Carotenoids are the most important natural pigments that play a significant role in scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) and in protecting plant cells from photooxidative damage [15]. It has a wide range of health benefits such as immunomodulatory, anticancer, antibacterial, antiaging, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects [16,17,18,19,20,21]. Carotenoids might help to enhance the immune system [22]

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