Construct a gene‐to‐metabolite network to screen the key genes of triterpene saponin biosynthetic pathway in Panax notoginseng

Abstract

Triterpene saponins are main active constituents of Panax notoginseng. Metabolites profiling of 12 triterpene saponins was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry in leaf, petiole, and root extracts of P. notoginseng. Most of the 20(S)-protopanaxatriol (PPT) type saponins, except ginsenoside Re, were mainly distributed in roots, while 20(S)-protopanaxadiol (PPD) type saponins were detected among various tissues. The total content of PPD-type saponins decreased in the order of leaf, petiole, and root. The expression patterns of four key genes (PnFPS, PnSQS, PnDS, and PnSE) in the triterpene saponin biosynthetic pathway were measured by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). All the four investigated genes showed high expression levels in leaf. A gene-to-metabolite network was constructed through canonical correlation analysis. The results indicated that the expression levels of PnFPS, PnSQS, PnDS, and PnSE had high correlation with PPD-type saponins ginsenoside Rb , Rb , and Rc, while PnSQS was also highly correlated with Rb . Combining metabolic profiling, RT-qPCR, and gene-to-metabolite network, we inferred that the leaf of P. notoginseng was the main biosynthesis site of PPD-type saponins Rb , Rb , and Rc. The contribution to the biosynthesis of ginsenosides Rb , Rb , and Rc was in the order of PnSE > PnDS > PnSQS > PnFPS. PnSE and PnDS should be the preferred targets to regulate the production of PPD-type saponins Rb , Rb , and Rc in P. notoginseng by plant metabolic engineering.

Panax notoginseng saponins promote liver regeneration through activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR cell proliferation pathway and upregulation of the AKT/Bad cell survival pathway in mice

“…PNS is a species of the genus Panax and have extensive pharmacological activities in the treatment of various diseases, such as cardiovascular, nervous and anticancer, anti-atherosclerotic and other biological activities [23]. PNS are active components with different dammarane-type saponins [5]. Notoginsenoside R1 is a unique component in PNS, which contributed to the amelioration of myocardial cells apoptosis and myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury via inhibiting the activation of TAK1/NF-κB pathways [24].…”

Advances and challenges in ginseng research from 2011 to 2020: the phytochemistry, quality control, metabolism, and biosynthesis

“…There are many kinds of enzyme regulation at the same time in the process of biosynthesis. 409 It is well known that two cytochrome P450 (CYP) genes (CYP716A47 and CYP716A53v2) are critical for the production of PPD and PPT aglycones, respectively. The PPD-type can be transformed into PPT-type ginsenosides by CYP716A53v2.…”

Role of Bioactive Constituents of Panax notoginseng in the Modulation of Tumorigenesis: A Potential Review for the Treatment of Cancer

“…Rb1, Rh2, Rd, Rh4, and Rg3 are just a few of the most investigated ginsenosides. We will concentrate on those ginsenosides (notoginsenoside R1, ginsenosides Rd, Rg1, Rh4, Rb1, and Rg3) that have been shown to inhibit carcinogenesis by targeting several pathways ( Li et al, 2007 ; Gu et al, 2015 ; Wang et al, 2018 ). This review provides a thorough overview of P. notoginseng’s ethnopharmacology and phytochemistry.…”