TARGET OF MONOPTEROS: key transcription factors orchestrating plant development and environmental response

Root-synthesized secondary metabolites are critical quality-conferring compounds of foods, plant-derived medicines, and beverages. However, information at a single-cell level on root-specific secondary metabolism remains largely unexplored. L-theanine, an important quality component of tea, is primarily synthesized in roots, from which it is then transported to new tea shoots. In this study, we present a single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq)-derived map for the tea root, which enabled cell-type-specific analysis of glutamate and ethylamine (two precursors of theanine biosynthesis) metabolism, and theanine biosynthesis, storage, and transport. Our findings support a model in which the theanine biosynthesis pathway occurs via multicellular compartmentation and does not require high co-expression levels of transcription factors and their target genes within the same cell cluster. This study provides novel insights into theanine metabolism and regulation, at the single-cell level, and offers an example for studying root-specific secondary metabolism in other plant systems.

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Root-specific theanine metabolism and regulation at the single-cell level in tea plants (Camellia sinensis)

Lin,

Zhang,

Zhang

et al. 2024

eLife

2

0

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Root-synthesized secondary metabolites are critical quality-conferring compounds of foods, plant-derived medicines, and beverages. However, information at a single-cell level on root-specific secondary metabolism remains largely unexplored. L-theanine, an important quality component of tea, is primarily synthesized in roots, from which it is then transported to new tea shoots. In this study, we present a single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq)-derived map for the tea root, which enabled cell-type-specific analysis of glutamate and ethylamine (two precursors of theanine biosynthesis) metabolism, and theanine biosynthesis, storage, and transport. Our findings support a model in which the theanine biosynthesis pathway occurs via multicellular compartmentation and does not require high co-expression levels of transcription factors and their target genes within the same cell cluster. This study provides novel insights into theanine metabolism and regulation, at the single-cell level, and offers an example for studying root-specific secondary metabolism in other plant systems.

show abstract

TARGET OF MONOPTEROS: key transcription factors orchestrating plant development and environmental response

Cited by 5 publications

References 193 publications

An HD-Zip transcription factor ArHDZ22 regulates plant height and decreases salt tolerance in Anoectochilus roxburghii

An HD-Zip transcription factor ArHDZ22 regulates plant height and decreases salt tolerance in Anoectochilus roxburghii

Root-specific secondary metabolism at the single-cell level: a case study of theanine metabolism and regulation in the roots of tea plants (Camellia sinensis)

Root-specific theanine metabolism and regulation at the single-cell level in tea plants (Camellia sinensis)

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