Molecular insights into AabZIP1-mediated regulation on artemisinin biosynthesis and drought tolerance in Artemisia annua.
10.1016/j.apsb.2021.09.026
- Author:
Guoping SHU
1
;
Yueli TANG
1
;
Mingyuan YUAN
1
;
Ning WEI
1
;
Fangyuan ZHANG
1
;
Chunxian YANG
1
;
Xiaozhong LAN
2
;
Min CHEN
3
;
Kexuan TANG
1
;
Lien XIANG
4
;
Zhihua LIAO
1
Author Information
1. Key Laboratory of Eco-environments in Three Gorges Reservoir Region (Ministry of Education), Chongqing Engineering Research Centre for Sweet Potato, SWU-TAAHC Medicinal Plant Joint R&D Centre, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
2. TAAHC-SWU Medicinal Plant Joint R&D Centre, Xizang Agricultural and Husbandry College, Nyingchi 860000, China.
3. College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
4. College of Environmental Science and Engineering, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
AaMYC2;
AabZIP1;
Artemisia annua;
Artemisinin biosynthesis;
Drought tolerance;
Wax biosynthesis
- From:
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B
2022;12(3):1500-1513
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Artemisia annua is the main natural source of artemisinin production. In A. annua, extended drought stress severely reduces its biomass and artemisinin production while short-term water-withholding or abscisic acid (ABA) treatment can increase artemisinin biosynthesis. ABA-responsive transcription factor AabZIP1 and JA signaling AaMYC2 have been shown in separate studies to promote artemisinin production by targeting several artemisinin biosynthesis genes. Here, we found AabZIP1 promote the expression of multiple artemisinin biosynthesis genes including AaDBR2 and AaALDH1, which AabZIP1 does not directly activate. Subsequently, it was found that AabZIP1 up-regulates AaMYC2 expression through direct binding to its promoter, and that AaMYC2 binds to the promoter of AaALDH1 to activate its transcription. In addition, AabZIP1 directly transactivates wax biosynthesis genes AaCER1 and AaCYP86A1. The biosynthesis of artemisinin and cuticular wax and the tolerance of drought stress were significantly increased by AabZIP1 overexpression, whereas they were significantly decreased in RNAi-AabZIP1 plants. Collectively, we have uncovered the AabZIP1-AaMYC2 transcriptional module as a point of cross-talk between ABA and JA signaling in artemisinin biosynthesis, which may have general implications. We have also identified AabZIP1 as a promising candidate gene for the development of A. annua plants with high artemisinin content and drought tolerance in metabolic engineering breeding.
