RNA Methylome Reveals the m6A-mediated Regulation of Flavor Metabolites in Tea Leaves under Solar-withering.
10.1016/j.gpb.2023.02.003
- Author:
Chen ZHU
1
;
Shuting ZHANG
2
;
Chengzhe ZHOU
1
;
Caiyun TIAN
3
;
Biying SHI
3
;
Kai XU
3
;
Linjie HUANG
3
;
Yun SUN
3
;
Yuling LIN
2
;
Zhongxiong LAI
4
;
Yuqiong GUO
5
Author Information
1. College of Horticulture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Institute of Horticultural Biotechnology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Tea Industry Research Institute, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China.
2. College of Horticulture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Institute of Horticultural Biotechnology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China.
3. College of Horticulture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Tea Industry Research Institute, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China.
4. College of Horticulture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Institute of Horticultural Biotechnology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China. Electronic address: 000q020029@fafu.edu.cn.
5. College of Horticulture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Tea Industry Research Institute, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China. Electronic address: 000q020049@fafu.edu.cn.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Camellia sinensis;
Epitranscriptome;
RNA methylation;
Secondary metabolite;
Withering
- MeSH:
RNA/metabolism*;
Epigenome;
Plant Proteins/metabolism*;
Plant Leaves/metabolism*;
Camellia sinensis/metabolism*;
Flavonoids;
Terpenes/metabolism*;
Tea/metabolism*;
Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
- From:
Genomics, Proteomics & Bioinformatics
2023;21(4):769-787
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
The epitranscriptomic mark N6-methyladenosine (m6A), which is the predominant internal modification in RNA, is important for plant responses to diverse stresses. Multiple environmental stresses caused by the tea-withering process can greatly influence the accumulation of specialized metabolites and the formation of tea flavor. However, the effects of the m6A-mediated regulatory mechanism on flavor-related metabolic pathways in tea leaves remain relatively uncharacterized. We performed an integrated RNA methylome and transcriptome analysis to explore the m6A-mediated regulatory mechanism and its effects on flavonoid and terpenoid metabolism in tea (Camellia sinensis) leaves under solar-withering conditions. Dynamic changes in global m6A level in tea leaves were mainly controlled by two m6A erasers (CsALKBH4A and CsALKBH4B) during solar-withering treatments. Differentially methylated peak-associated genes following solar-withering treatments with different shading rates were assigned to terpenoid biosynthesis and spliceosome pathways. Further analyses indicated that CsALKBH4-driven RNA demethylation can directly affect the accumulation of volatile terpenoids by mediating the stability and abundance of terpenoid biosynthesis-related transcripts and also indirectly influence the flavonoid, catechin, and theaflavin contents by triggering alternative splicing-mediated regulation. Our findings revealed a novel layer of epitranscriptomic gene regulation in tea flavor-related metabolic pathways and established a link between the m6A-mediated regulatory mechanism and the formation of tea flavor under solar-withering conditions.
