OBJECTIVETo analyze the correlation between content of glycyrrhizic acid and the single nucleotide polymorphism of beta-amyrin synthase (bAS) in Glycyrrhiza uralensis.

METHODglycyrrhizic acid content in 80 samples of the cultivated G. uralensis were determined by HPLC; According to the very significant level (P < 0.000 1), 80 samples in accordance with glycyrrhizic acid will be grouped by SAS 9.0; Using RT-PCR strategy to amplification the Open Reading Frame of beta-amyrin synthase with the template of total RNA extracted from roots of G. uralensis and then using DNAman to analyze the relationship between glycyrrhizic acid content and the single nucleotide polymorphism of beta-amyrin synthase (bAS).

RESULTThere exited two mutation sites 94 bp and 254 bp, G/A conversion occurred at 94 bp site, which belonged to a missense mutation. G/A conversion led to the corresponding amino acid conversion (Gly --> Asp); C/T conversion occurred at 254 bp site, which belonged to a synonymous mutation. According to sequence variation, the samples were divided into four genotypes: G-T genotype, A-T genotype, G/A-C genotype and G-T genotype.

CONCLUSIONA-T genotype, G/A-C genotype and G-T genotype are correlated with the high content of glycyrrhizic acid.