A seasonal dynamics of free fatty acid content and gene expression provides new insights into the fatty acid metabolism in Acer truncatum seeds
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Acer truncatum Bunge (ATB) seed oil has garnered attention in China as a promising edible oil due to its diverse health benefits. The transcriptome and targeted metabolome analyses were conducted on ATB seeds collected from Tongliao, Inner Mongolia (IMTL) between May to September. A total of 36 free fatty acids (FFAs) (like nervonic acid and linolenic acid) were identified, with 12 FFAs showing differential accumulation. Through integrative analysis, Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA), and K -means clustering, key genes involved in conjoint KEGG pathways between differential expressed genes (DEGs) and differential accumulated free fatty acids (DAFFAs) were identified: Atru.chr6.3280 in fatty acid biosynthesis, Atru.chr6.2845 in unsaturated fatty acid synthesis, Atru.chr3.2472_Atru.chr3.2479 in the linoleic acid pathway, Atru.chr4.2824 in very-long-chain fatty acid biosynthesis, Atru.chr6.2603 , Atru.chr2.229 , Atru.chr4.1919 , Atru.chr5.2650 , Atru.chr1.598 , and novel.4789 in cutin, suberin, and wax biosynthesis, novel.4790 , Atru.chr6.2046 , Atru.chr9.2308 , Atru.chr6.3280 and Atru.chr3.305 in cofactor biosynthesis. Notably, six transcription factors (TFs) from the B3, MYB, NAC, AP2/ERF, and bHLH families were found to be strongly correlated with the DAFFAs. This research offers a novel perspective on the molecular mechanisms underlying fatty acid metabolism in ATB seed oil and establishes a basis for future studies on its functional properties. • 12 key differential accumulation free fatty acids (DAFFAs) were detected. • Genes strongly associated with DAFFAs were identified. • Six transcription factors were strongly correlated with DAFFAs. • A potential mechanism linking DAFFAs and related genes was proposed.
Source: Industrial Crops and Products
Institution: Guizhou University
Language: English
Subfield: Biochemistry
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,720
OpenAlex ID: W4409626129