Abstract
Solanesol is a terpene alcohol composed of nine isoprene units that mainly accumulates in solanaceous plants, especially tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum). The present study aimed to investigate the regulation of solanesol accumulation in tobacco leaves induced by moderately high temperature (MHT). Exposure to MHT resulted in a significant increase in solanesol content, dry weight, and net photosynthetic rate in tobacco leaves. In MHT-exposed tobacco leaves, 492 and 1440 genes were significantly up- and downregulated, respectively, as revealed by RNA-sequencing. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that most of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were mainly related to secondary metabolite biosynthesis, metabolic pathway, carbohydrate metabolism, lipid metabolism, hydrolase activity, catalytic activity, and oxidation-reduction process. Moreover, 122 transcription factors of DEGs were divided into 22 families. Significant upregulation of N. tabacum 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (NtHMGR), 1-deoxy-d-xylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase (NtDXR), geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase (NtGGPS), and solanesyl diphosphate synthase (NtSPS) and significant downregulation of N. tabacum 1-deoxy-d-xylulose 5-phosphate synthase (NtDXS) and farnesyl diphosphate synthase (NtFPS) transcription upon MHT exposure were monitored by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). This study indicated that solanesol accumulation in tobacco leaves can be manipulated through regulation of the environmental temperature and established a basis for further elucidation of the molecular mechanism of temperature regulation of solanesol accumulation.
Highlights
In China, tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) is mainly used as an industrial raw material for cigarette production; with the increasing stringent measures against tobacco in China, the development of tobacco planting industry has been limited [1]
Functional enrichment analysis revealed that most of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were related to secondary metabolite biosynthesis, metabolic pathway, carbohydrate metabolism, lipid metabolism, hydrolase activity, catalytic activity, and oxidation-reduction process (Figure 4, Table 2)
This study revealed that compared to growth at normal temperature (NT), moderately high temperature (MHT) treatment results in a significant increase in solanesol content, dry weight, and net photosynthetic rate in tobacco leaves
Summary
In China, tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) is mainly used as an industrial raw material for cigarette production; with the increasing stringent measures against tobacco in China, the development of tobacco planting industry has been limited [1]. Solanesol, which mainly accumulates in solanaceous plants, especially tobacco, Biomolecules 2018, 8, 165; doi:10.3390/biom8040165 www.mdpi.com/journal/biomolecules. Antifungal, antiviral, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-ulcer activities [2]. CoQ10 is used to treat cardiovascular disease, migraine, Parkinson’s disease, and neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Huntington disease), and as a dietary supplement for patients with type 2 diabetes; vitamin K2 has been used to treat osteoporosis, and SDB can overcome P-glycoprotein-mediated multidrug resistance of cancer cells [2,6,7]. Yao et al [8,9] have found that solanesol can induce HO-1 and Hsp expression, thereby mitigating alcohol-induced hepatocyte injury, but it displays anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting the production of inflammatory cytokines through the p38 and Akt signaling pathways
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