Genome-wide identification and expression profiling of bHLH transcription factors associated with ferulic acid biosynthesis in Angelica sinensis
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This study identifies 148 bHLH transcription factors in Angelica sinensis and reveals four putative candidates associated with ferulic acid biosynthesis, providing a genetic foundation for metabolic engineering to enhance the plant’s medicinal value. The basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) proteins regulate plant growth, development, stress responses, and secondary metabolites. While well-characterized in woody plants, they remain unexplored in Angelica sinensis ( A. sinensis ), a medicinal plant renowned for bioactive compounds including ferulic acid. Therefore, we systematically identified and characterized bHLH transcription factors in A. sinensis through whole-genome analysis and transcriptome profiling, identifying putative genes potentially regulating ferulic acid biosynthesis. Bioinformatic analyses were employed to characterize the physicochemical properties, gene structures, conserved motifs/domains, phylogenetic relationships, chromosome localization, collinearity, cis-acting elements, and transcriptome expression patterns of AsbHLHs . A total of 148 AsbHLH genes were annotated from the genomic database of A. sinensis , classified into 16 subfamilies based on the phylogenetic analysis. Results revealed that these transcription factors encode hydrophilic proteins (83–741 aa; 9.6–80.8 kDa), with nearly all localized to the nucleus. Gene structure analysis showed exon numbers ranging from 1 to 18, while MEME motif analysis identified five conserved motifs (1–5) shared across most AsbHLH proteins. Promoter analysis uncovered abundant cis -elements associated with growth, secondary metabolism (including ferulic acid biosynthesis), and stress responses. WGCNA revealed turquoise module contained 40 bHLH and five phenylpropanoid pathway-specific genes, from which PPI and phylogenetic analyses pinpointed four putative genes potentially associated with ferulic acid production. Quantitative RT-PCR validated these candidates, showing expression patterns consistent with transcriptome data. This study provides the first comprehensive genomic/transcriptomic resource for AsbHLH genes in A. sinensis , highlighting their secondary metabolic roles. Identified candidates enable genetic engineering strategies to boost ferulic acid production, enhancing A. sinensis’ medicinal value.
Source: Frontiers in Plant Science
Authors: Khadija Tehseen Arshad, Chaohui Li, Lesong Li, Juan Wang, Junwen Chen, Yan Zhao
Institution: Yunnan Agricultural University
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,801
OpenAlex ID: W4416729138