Genome-wide characterization and expression profiling of MAPK cascade genes in Salvia miltiorrhiza reveals the function of SmMAPK3 and SmMAPK1 in secondary metabolism

Abstract

Background The contribution of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades to plant growth and development has been widely studied, but this knowledge has not yet been extended to the medicinal plant Salvia miltiorrhiza, which produces a number of pharmacologically active secondary metabolites. Results In this study, we performed a genome-wide survey and identified six MAPKKK kinases (MAPKKKKs), 83 MAPKK kinases (MAPKKKs), nine MAPK kinases (MAPKKs) and 18 MAPKs in the S. miltiorrhiza genome. Within each class of genes, a small number of subfamilies were recognized. A transcriptional analysis revealed differences in the genes’ behaviour with respect to both their site of transcription and their inducibility by elicitors and phytohormones. Two genes were identified as strong candidates for playing roles in phytohormone signalling. A gene-to-metabolite network was constructed based on correlation analysis, highlighting the likely involvement of two of the cascades in the synthesis of two key groups of pharmacologically active secondary metabolites: phenolic acids and tanshinones. Conclusion The data provide insight into the functional diversification and conservation of MAPK cascades in S. miltiorrhiza.

Insight into oral amphiphilic cyclodextrin nanoparticles for colorectal cancer: comprehensive mathematical model of drug release kinetic studies and antitumoral efficacy in 3D spheroid colon tumors

“…The primary factor causing the effects of nanoparticle formulations on two different colon tumors to differ from each other is the origin of the cells. The genome-transcriptome mapping investigation revealed that despite having two separate origins, the CT26 cell has characteristics similar to human primary colorectal cancers in terms of drug resistance mechanisms, gene expression and mutation patterns, and pathways in onco-related genes [ 59 – 60 ]. Nevertheless, because of their different origins, these cell lines exhibit various genetic and epigenetic changes as well as mutations due to their diverse origins.…”

Comparative transcriptome analyses of differentSalvia miltiorrhizavarieties during the accumulation of tanshinones

“…Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades are a prevalent characteristic of eukaryotic cells, involving in plant growth (Zhang et al, 2018), development (Kalapos et al, 2019), stress response (Adachi et al, 2015;He & Meng, 2020), and the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites (De Boer et al, 2011; Devendrakumar, Li & Zhang, 2018;Zheng et al, 2019). In S. miltiorrhiza, eighteen MAPKs have been identified, and two SmMAPKs (SmMAPK1, SmMAPK3) might play a role in tanshinones biosynthesis (Xie et al, 2020). Among the DEGs associated with tanshinones accumulation obtained in this study, there were six MAPK-related genes, and these genes had higher levels of expression in YN samples with high tanshinones content (Table S10), suggesting their possible role in tanshinones accumulation.…”

Reprogramming plant specialized metabolism by manipulating protein kinases

“…The kinase-initiated cascades responsible for signal perception and transduction seem to share many similarities, although the specialized metabolites produced by different plants vary significantly. For example, Arabidopsis , S. miltiorrhiza , tobacco, and C. roseus recruit the MAPK cascade to activate the biosynthesis of structurally diverse camalexin, tanshinone, and MIAs (Xie et al 2020 ; Raina et al 2012 ; Xu et al 2008 ; De Boer et al 2011 ; Paul et al 2017 ). Therefore, creating transgenic lines targeting PKs may lead to altered metabolic outcomes in many medicinal plant species.…”

“…The functions of MAPKs seem to be conserved in medicinal plants that produce unique specialized metabolites. In Salvia miltiorrhiza , MAPK seems to be associated with the biosynthesis of tanshinone (Xie et al 2020 ). S. miltiorrhiza is a traditional herb in Chinese medicine.…”