Characterization of the horse chestnut genome reveals the evolution of aescin and aesculin biosynthesis
Year: 2023
Type: article
Abstract: Horse chestnut ( Aesculus chinensis ) is an important medicinal tree that contains various bioactive compounds, such as aescin, barrigenol-type triterpenoid saponins (BAT), and aesculin, a glycosylated coumarin. Herein, we report a 470.02 Mb genome assembly and characterize an Aesculus -specific whole-genome duplication event, which leads to the formation and duplication of two triterpenoid biosynthesis-related gene clusters (BGCs). We also show that AcOCS6 , AcCYP716A278 , AcCYP716A275 , and AcCSL1 genes within these two BGCs along with a seed-specific expressed AcBAHD6 are responsible for the formation of aescin. Furthermore, we identify seven Aesculus -originated coumarin glycoside biosynthetic genes and achieve the de novo synthesis of aesculin in E. coli . Collinearity analysis shows that the collinear BGC segments can be traced back to early-diverging angiosperms, and the essential gene-encoding enzymes necessary for BAT biosynthesis are recruited before the splitting of Aesculus , Acer , and Xanthoceras . These findings provide insight on the evolution of gene clusters associated with medicinal tree metabolites.
Source: Nature Communications
Institutions: China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhan Polytechnic University, State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Northeast Forestry University, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $6,290
OpenAlex ID: W4387609567