Cloning and characterization of a farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase from Matricaria recutita L. and its upregulation by methyl jasmonate

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Matricaria recutita (L.), commonly known as chamomile, is one of the most valuable medicinal plants because it synthesizes a large number of pharmacologically active secondary metabolites known as α-bisabolol and chamazulene. Although the plant has been well characterized in terms of chemical constituents of essential oil as well as pharmacological properties, little is known about the genes responsible for biosynthesis of these compounds. In this study, we report a new full-length cDNA encoding farnesyl diphosphate synthase (FPS), a key enzyme in the pathway of biosynthesis of isoprenoids, from M. recutita. The cDNA of MrFPS comprises 1032 bp and encodes 343 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular mass of 39.4 kDa. The amino acid sequence homology and phylogenetic analysis indicated that MrFPS belongs to the plant FPS super-family and is closely related to FPS from the Asteraceae family. Expression of the MrFPS gene in Escherichia coli yielded FPS activity. Using real-time quantitative PCR, the expression pattern of the MrFPS gene was analyzed in different tissues of M. recutita as well as in response to methyl jasmonate. The expression analysis demonstrated that MrFPS expression varies in different tissues (with maximal expression in flowers and stems) and was significantly elevated in response to methyl jasmonate. This study will certainly enhance our understanding of the role of MrFPS in the biosynthesis and regulation of valuable secondary metabolites in M. recutita at a molecular level.

Cloning, Expression Characteristics of Farnesyl Pyrophosphate Synthase Gene from Platycodon grandiflorus and Functional Identification in Triterpenoid Synthesis

“…19 MrFPS gene was highly expressed in the flowers and stems of Matricaria recutita, and the expression level of MrFPS gene was significantly increased after MeJA treatment. 36 The content of triterpenoid saponins in the hairy roots of Calendula officinalis after ABA treatment was 6.6 times higher than that in the control group, which verified that it was the key elicitor for the synthesis of triterpenoids and steroids in the hairy roots of C. officinalis. 37 Exogenous ethephon induction significantly increased the activities of HMGS, HMGR, FPS, CPT, DHAD, and ADF, upregulated the genes related to biosynthesis, such as carotenoids, flavonoids, and abscisic acid, and promoted the yield of latex and the accumulation of secondary metabolites in rubber tree.…”

Molecular Cloning and Functional Analysis of DXS and FPS Genes from Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim

“…FPS is also expressed differently in different tissues of the plant. For Matricaria recutita L., MrFPS is most highly expressed in flowers and stems [ 43 ]. In H. brasiliensis , HbFPS is not expressed in roots, stems, leaves, and other tissues but is highly expressed in latex [ 44 ].…”

Cloning and Expression Analysis of a Farnesyl Diphosphate Synthase (FPPS) Gene from Chamaemelum nobile

“…FPPS genes are commonly found in tomato plants and are regulated during development (Gaffe et al, 2000). FPPS was mainly expressed in the tubular flowers, moderately expressed in the ligulate flowers and leaves, and least expressed in the root of M. chamomilla (Su et al, 2015). The expression pattern of CnFPPS in C. nobile revealed that the gene was expressed in all tissues but is expressed at a high level in the root, followed by that in flower and stem, and expression level was lowest in leaf.…”