Transcriptome analysis of flavonoid biosynthesis in safflower flowers grown under different light intensities
Background Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is a domesticated species with a long history of cultivation and widespread distribution across the globe, and light plays an important role in controlling its distribution boundary. Flowers from safflower have been widely used in traditional Chinese me...
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| Format: | Article |
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PeerJ Inc.
2020-02-01
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| Online Access: | https://peerj.com/articles/8671.pdf |
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| author | Chaoxiang Ren Jie Wang Bin Xian Xiaohui Tang Xuyun Liu Xueli Hu Zunhong Hu Yiyun Wu Cuiping Chen Qinghua Wu Jiang Chen Jin Pei |
| author_facet | Chaoxiang Ren Jie Wang Bin Xian Xiaohui Tang Xuyun Liu Xueli Hu Zunhong Hu Yiyun Wu Cuiping Chen Qinghua Wu Jiang Chen Jin Pei |
| author_sort | Chaoxiang Ren |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is a domesticated species with a long history of cultivation and widespread distribution across the globe, and light plays an important role in controlling its distribution boundary. Flowers from safflower have been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine because of their ability to improve cerebral blood flow. Flavonoids are the main active compounds in safflower and have many pharmacological effects. In this study, we aimed to explore the relationship between different light intensities and flavonoid biosynthesis in safflower flowers cultivated in greenhouse. Methods The transcriptome of safflower flowers grown under different light intensities were sequenced through BGISEQ-500 platform. After assembled and filtered, Unigenes were annotated by aligning with seven functional databases. Differential expression analysis of two samples was performed with the DEseq2 package. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related with flavonoids biosynthesis were analyzed by Real-time PCR (RT-PCR). Flavonoids accumulation in flowers were determined by high performance liquid chromatography and spectrophotometer. Results Transcriptome analysis of safflower flowers cultivated under different light intensities was performed. A total of 99.16 Gb data were obtained, and 78,179 Unigenes were annotated. Among the DEGs, 13 genes were related to flavonoid biosynthesis. The differential expressions of seven key genes were confirmed by RT-PCR. In addition, the levels of some flavonoids were measured in safflower flowers grown under different light intensities. CtHCT3 gene expression showed a significantly negative correlation with kaempferol content in safflower grown under different light intensities. Conclusion Our results strongly suggested that the reduction in light intensity in a suitable range promoted flavonoid biosynthesis in safflower flowers. We suggest that the expressions of HCT genes played an important role in flavonoid accumulation in safflower flowers. Our study lays a foundation for further research on the effects of light on flavonoid biosynthesis in safflower. |
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| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T08:17:14Z |
| publishDate | 2020-02-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-00333daa6a5e42159a7aa8bd5c2c87642023-12-02T22:00:54ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592020-02-018e867110.7717/peerj.8671Transcriptome analysis of flavonoid biosynthesis in safflower flowers grown under different light intensitiesChaoxiang Ren0Jie Wang1Bin Xian2Xiaohui Tang3Xuyun Liu4Xueli Hu5Zunhong Hu6Yiyun Wu7Cuiping Chen8Qinghua Wu9Jiang Chen10Jin Pei11College of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaCollege of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaCollege of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaCollege of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaIndustrial Crop Institute of Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Yunnan, ChinaIndustrial Crop Institute of Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Yunnan, ChinaIndustrial Crop Institute of Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Yunnan, ChinaCollege of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaCollege of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaCollege of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaCollege of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaCollege of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaBackground Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is a domesticated species with a long history of cultivation and widespread distribution across the globe, and light plays an important role in controlling its distribution boundary. Flowers from safflower have been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine because of their ability to improve cerebral blood flow. Flavonoids are the main active compounds in safflower and have many pharmacological effects. In this study, we aimed to explore the relationship between different light intensities and flavonoid biosynthesis in safflower flowers cultivated in greenhouse. Methods The transcriptome of safflower flowers grown under different light intensities were sequenced through BGISEQ-500 platform. After assembled and filtered, Unigenes were annotated by aligning with seven functional databases. Differential expression analysis of two samples was performed with the DEseq2 package. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related with flavonoids biosynthesis were analyzed by Real-time PCR (RT-PCR). Flavonoids accumulation in flowers were determined by high performance liquid chromatography and spectrophotometer. Results Transcriptome analysis of safflower flowers cultivated under different light intensities was performed. A total of 99.16 Gb data were obtained, and 78,179 Unigenes were annotated. Among the DEGs, 13 genes were related to flavonoid biosynthesis. The differential expressions of seven key genes were confirmed by RT-PCR. In addition, the levels of some flavonoids were measured in safflower flowers grown under different light intensities. CtHCT3 gene expression showed a significantly negative correlation with kaempferol content in safflower grown under different light intensities. Conclusion Our results strongly suggested that the reduction in light intensity in a suitable range promoted flavonoid biosynthesis in safflower flowers. We suggest that the expressions of HCT genes played an important role in flavonoid accumulation in safflower flowers. Our study lays a foundation for further research on the effects of light on flavonoid biosynthesis in safflower.https://peerj.com/articles/8671.pdfFlavonoid biosynthesisSafflowerLight intensityTranscriptome |
| spellingShingle | Chaoxiang Ren Jie Wang Bin Xian Xiaohui Tang Xuyun Liu Xueli Hu Zunhong Hu Yiyun Wu Cuiping Chen Qinghua Wu Jiang Chen Jin Pei Transcriptome analysis of flavonoid biosynthesis in safflower flowers grown under different light intensities PeerJ Flavonoid biosynthesis Safflower Light intensity Transcriptome |
| title | Transcriptome analysis of flavonoid biosynthesis in safflower flowers grown under different light intensities |
| title_full | Transcriptome analysis of flavonoid biosynthesis in safflower flowers grown under different light intensities |
| title_fullStr | Transcriptome analysis of flavonoid biosynthesis in safflower flowers grown under different light intensities |
| title_full_unstemmed | Transcriptome analysis of flavonoid biosynthesis in safflower flowers grown under different light intensities |
| title_short | Transcriptome analysis of flavonoid biosynthesis in safflower flowers grown under different light intensities |
| title_sort | transcriptome analysis of flavonoid biosynthesis in safflower flowers grown under different light intensities |
| topic | Flavonoid biosynthesis Safflower Light intensity Transcriptome |
| url | https://peerj.com/articles/8671.pdf |
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