Senescent Leaves of Artemisia annua are One of the Most Active Organs for Overexpression of Artemisinin Biosynthesis Responsible Genes upon Burst of Singlet Oxygen

Abstract

To dissect and penetrate complexicity regarding the tissue-specific and environment-induced expression modes of cytosolic and plastidial terpene biosynthetic genes in A. annua, corresponding mRNAs relevant to terpene biosynthesis were quantitatively compared among distinctive organs and during different growth stages. Although all examined mRNAs gradually elevate from June to August in tested organs, a putative artemisinin biosynthesis responsible DBR2 mRNA represents the most abundant transcript anyplace and anytime. Apart from others, senescent leaves endow global activation of artemisinin biosynthetic genes and ultimately lead to enhanced artemisinin production. Direct measurement of ¹O₂ burst from senescent leaves strongly supports an involvement of ¹O₂ in conversion from precursor(s) to artemisinin. In the context of environmental stresses, physical and chemical stress signals that include those invoking ¹O₂ burst were evaluated as if inducing artemisinin biosynthetic genes. The quantitative data have reiterated a common pattern of modulating artemisinin production in A. annua by triggering ¹O₂ burst during senescence and under chilling acclimatization. In conclusion, a missing link concatenating senescence-coupled ¹O₂ generation to ¹O₂-induced upregulation of artemisinin biosynthetic genes has been re-established, which would provide a fertile base for future endeavors pursuing further enhancements of artemisinin production.

Key words

Artemisia annua - Asteraceae - artemisinin - oxidative stress - singlet oxygen - induction - expression profile

References

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1 These authors contributed equally to the present work.