Integrated transcriptomics and metabolomics analysis of flavonoid biosynthesis in <i>Ophiopogon japonicum</i> under cadmium stress.

Song GAO; Mengli QIU; Qing LI; Qian ZHAO; Erli NIU

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Integrated transcriptomics and metabolomics analysis of flavonoid biosynthesis in Ophiopogon japonicum under cadmium stress.

Author: Song GAO ¹ ; Mengli QIU ² ; Qing LI ² ; Qian ZHAO ² ; Erli NIU ¹
Author Information

1. Institute of Crops and Nuclear Technology Utilization, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, Zhejiang, China.
2. School of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Zhejiang University of Science and Technology, Hangzhou 310023, Zhejiang, China.
Publication Type:Journal Article
Keywords: Ophiopogon japonicus; cadmium stress; flavonoid biosynthesis; integrated omics analysis
MeSH: Cadmium/toxicity*; Flavonoids/biosynthesis*; Metabolomics; Ophiopogon/drug effects*; Stress, Physiological; Transcriptome; Gene Expression Profiling; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
From: Chinese Journal of Biotechnology 2025;41(2):588-601
CountryChina
Language:Chinese
Abstract: Ophiopogon japonicus, a precious medicinal plant endemic to Zhejiang Province. Its tuberous roots are rich in bioactive components such as flavonoids, possessing anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties. To elucidate the impact of cadmium (Cd) stress on the accumulation and biosynthetic pathway of flavonoids in O. japonicus, this study exposed O. japonicus to different concentrations of Cd stress and explored the changes through integrated transcriptomics and metabolomics analysis. The results demonstrated that Cd stress (1 mg/L and 10 mg/L) significantly increased the content of flavonoids in O. japonicus in a concentration-dependent manner. The metabolomics analysis revealed a total of 110 flavonoids including flavones, flavanols, flavonols, flavone and flavonol derivatives, flavanones, isoflavonoids, chalcones and dihydrochalcones, and anthocyanins in O. japonicus, among which flavones, flavonols, flavone and flavonol derivatives, and anthocyanins increased under Cd stress. The transcriptomics analysis identified several key flavonoid biosynthesis-associated genes with up-regulated expression under Cd stress, including 14 genes encoding 4-coumarate CoA ligase (4CL), 2 genes encoding chalcone isomerase (CHI), and 14 genes encoding phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL). The gene-metabolite regulatory network indicated significant positive correlations of 4CL (Cluster-21637.5012, Cluster-21637.90648, and Cluster-21637.62637) and CHI (Cluster-21637.111909 and Cluster-21637.123300) with flavonoid metabolites, suggesting that these genes promoted the synthesis of specific flavonoid metabolites, which led to the accumulation of total flavonoids under Cd stress. These findings provide theoretical support for the cultivation and utilization of medicinal plants in Cd-contaminated environments and offered new perspectives for studying plant responses to heavy metal stress.