Review
Agricultural Engineering
Ranjana Soni, Gauri Shankar, Pradipto Mukhopadhyay, Vikrant Gupta
Summary: Malaria is a major global health concern and previous measures to control and cure it are being hampered by drug resistance. Artemisinin derived from sweet wormwood is highly effective against the malaria-causing parasite and is a major component of current treatments. However, there is a limited supply of artemisinin, and novel strategies and advanced scientific methods are needed to meet global demand.
INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xueqing Fu, Yilong He, Ling Li, Limei Zhao, Yuting Wang, Hongmei Qian, Xiaofen Sun, Kexuan Tang, Jingya Zhao
Summary: Research shows that the cryptochrome1 in Artemisia annua is involved in blue light response, promoting artemisinin biosynthesis when overexpressed. Overexpression of AaCRY1 can increase artemisinin content, with the fusion protein GUS-CCT showing the most effective results.
BIOTECHNOLOGY AND APPLIED BIOCHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Rika Judd, Yilun Dong, Xiaoyan Sun, Yue Zhu, Mingzhuo Li, De-Yu Xie
Summary: In this study, four types of engineered cells from Artemisia annua were developed to produce anthocyanins, with structural elucidation of four of them. All of these cells expressed the artemisinin pathway. By engineering anthocyanins in plant cells, it is possible to increase the production of artemisinin, providing a new platform for the cultivation of the medicinal crop Artemisia annua and the production of artemisinin-based drugs.
Article
Plant Sciences
Tian-Tian Chen, Xing-Hao Yao, Hang Liu, Yong-Peng Li, Wei Qin, Xin Yan, Xiu-Yun Wang, Bo-Wen Peng, Yao-Jie Zhang, Jin Shao, Xin-Yi Hu, Qing Miao, Xue-Qing Fu, Yu-Liang Wang, Ling Li, Ke-Xuan Tang
Summary: A MADS transcription factor, AaSEP4, has been identified as a positive regulator of artemisinin biosynthesis in Artemisia annua. AaSEP4 activates the expression of GLANDULAR TRICHOME-SPECIFIC WRKY1 and directly binds to its promoter region. Overexpression of AaSEP4 significantly increases artemisinin content in A. annua, making it a potential target for enhancing artemisinin production.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xingxing Wang, Wenjing Sun, Shiyuan Fang, Boran Dong, JinXing Li, Zongyou Lv, Wankui Li, Wansheng Chen
Summary: Artemisinin, extracted from Artemisia annua L., is an important drug for malaria treatment and has potential applications in other diseases. The regulatory mechanism of artemisinin production is still not well understood. In this study, WRKY6 was identified as a key transcription factor that binds to the promoter of the artemisinin biosynthesis gene DBR2, thereby regulating artemisinin synthesis and content during the growth cycle of A. annua.
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Jose Abramo Marchese, Jorge F. S. Ferreira, Rita Maria Moraes, Franck E. Dayan, Michelle F. F. Rodrigues, Jorge Jamhour, Lucas Vinicius Dallacorte
Summary: In this study, a phenological scale was established for Artemisia annua L. to facilitate successful cross-pollination and breeding. The scale divided the plant's growth cycle into the vegetative phase and reproductive phase, with distinct stages identified through daily observations and photographs. The experiments showed that genotypes from different geographic origins demonstrate better synchronization under both short days and low temperatures, and the concentration and yield of artemisinin vary depending on the photoperiod and growth phase.
INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Boran Dong, Xingxing Wang, Rui Jiang, Shiyuan Fang, Jinxing Li, Qing Li, Zong You Lv, Wan Sheng Chen
Summary: In this study, AaCycTL was found to regulate trichome development and affect the content of artemisinin in Artemisia annua. Overexpression of AaCycTL in Arabidopsis and A. annua resulted in changes in wax coverage on the plant surface and decreased trichome density. The interaction between AaCycTL and AaTAR1 was identified, indicating a potential role of AaCycTL in regulating trichome density and artemisinin biosynthesis.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Umit Babacan, Mehmet Fatih Cengiz, Mariem Bouali, Timur Tongur, Songul Sever Mutlu, Enes Gulmez
Summary: Artemisinin, the main active compound in Artemisia annua L., has been found to have antimalarial and antiviral properties. This study successfully optimized a HPLC method for the determination of artemisinin content in A. annua samples and also optimized the extraction conditions for the compound.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED RESEARCH ON MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC PLANTS
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Shuwei Chang, Qi Li, Baokang Huang, Wansheng Chen, Hexin Tan
Summary: This study systematically identified and characterized 226 putative bHLH transcription factors in A. annua. These transcription factors play important roles in regulating key biological processes such as artemisinin biosynthesis and trichome development.
Article
Horticulture
Federica Blando, Francesca Rizzello, Miriana Durante, Angelo De Paolis, Sofia Caretto, Giovanni Mita
Summary: This study established an in vitro regeneration process of Artemisia annua L. and investigated the potential of tissue culture to induce new variability in artemisinin metabolism. The results showed that adventitious shoot induction could provide a useful strategy to impact artemisinin metabolism through in vitro manipulation.
Article
Plant Sciences
Zhaoyu Liu, Yupeng Du, Zhihao Sun, Bohan Cheng, Zenghao Bi, Zhicheng Yao, Yuting Liang, Huiling Zhang, Run Yao, Shen Kang, Yuhua Shi, Huihua Wan, Dou Qin, Li Xiang, Liang Leng, Shilin Chen
Summary: Gene annotation is crucial for genome-based research, but algorithm-based annotation may not accurately reveal genomic information for species with complex genomes. In this study, we manually corrected the genome annotation of Artemisia annua using transcriptome data and found that gene annotation errors can affect gene structure, function, and expression levels.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Kaiser Iqbal Wani, M. Naeem, M. Masroor A. Khan, Tariq Aftab
Summary: This study investigates the role of strigolactones (SLs) in alleviating cadmium (Cd) toxicity in Artemisia annua plants. The results show that SLs improve the photosynthetic performance and Cd tolerance by modulating the antioxidant enzyme system, protecting chloroplasts and pigments, and enhancing glandular trichome (GT) attributes.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Mircea Coroian, Loredana Maria Pop, Virgilia Popa, Zsuzsa Friss, Ovidiu Oprea, Zsuzsa Kalmar, Adela Pintea, Silvia-Diana Borsan, Viorica Mircean, Iustina Lobontiu, Dumitru Militaru, Rodica Varban, Adriana Gyorke
Summary: The study found that Artemisia annua showed promising results in the prophylaxis of coccidiosis in farm-reared broiler chickens, leading to decreased oocyst numbers and lower lesion scores compared to the control group. The broiler chickens treated with A. annua also showed improved feed conversion rates, indicating its potential benefits for poultry farming.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yongpeng Li, Yinkai Yang, Pengyang Li, Miaomiao Sheng, Ling Li, Xiaojing Ma, Zhiyan Du, Kexuan Tang, Xiaolong Hao, Guoyin Kai
Summary: In this study, it was found that the environmental factors light and abscisic acid (ABA) can synergistically promote the expression of artemisinin biosynthetic genes. The transcription factor AaABI5 plays a crucial role in enhancing artemisinin biosynthesis by activating the expression of four core biosynthetic genes. This research provides valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms behind the regulation of artemisinin production.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zhangkuanyu Wu, Ling Li, Hang Liu, Xin Yan, Yanan Ma, Yongpeng Li, Tiantian Chen, Chen Wang, Lihui Xie, Xiaolong Hao, Sadaf-llyas Kayani, Kexuan Tang
Summary: Artemisinin is a secondary metabolite extracted from Artemisia annua, with extensive economical values as an effective antimalarial component. AaMYB15 is identified as the first negative regulator of artemisinin biosynthesis in A. annua, inhibiting the expression levels of key enzyme genes and decreasing artemisinin contents. AaMYB15 directly binds to the promoter of AaORA, a positive regulator, to repress its transcriptional activity and negatively regulate artemisinin biosynthesis.
Review
Plant Sciences
Gai Huang, Jin-Quan Huang, Xiao-Ya Chen, Yu-Xian Zhu
Summary: Cotton is a significant natural fiber crop for studying genome evolution, polyploidization, and cell elongation. Ethylene production pathway and various regulatory mechanisms are involved in fiber development, while new genes, modules, and pathways will accelerate genetic improvement of cotton.
ANNUAL REVIEW OF PLANT BIOLOGY, VOL 72, 2021
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Yuqing He, Xueying Zhang, Linying Li, Zongtao Sun, Junmin Li, Xiaoya Chen, Gaojie Hong
Summary: Phosphate is the plant-accessible form of phosphorus, and its deficiency limits plant growth. Studies show that phosphate deficiency can lead to over-accumulation of anthocyanins in plants, and SPX4 plays a role in transmitting the phosphate starvation signal to anthocyanin biosynthesis pathways.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Hang Fan, Yan Liu, Chen-Yi Li, Yan Jiang, Jiao-Jiao Song, Lei Yang, Qing Zhao, Yong-Hong Hu, Xiao-Ya Chen, Jing-Jing Xu
Summary: This study successfully bred high CoQ10 tomato lines by modifying gene expression, resulting in a significant increase in CoQ10 content. Analysis of HUCD plants revealed changes in other terpenoids in addition to CoQ10.
METABOLIC ENGINEERING
(2021)
Correction
Plant Sciences
Xiaoya Chen, Yuqing He, Gaojie Hong, Junmin Li, Linying Li, Zongtao Sun, Xueying Zhang
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Meng-Ying Cui, An-Rui Lu, Jian-Xu Li, Jie Liu, Yu-Min Fang, Tian-Lin Pei, Xin Zhong, Yu-Kun Wei, Yu Kong, Wen-Qing Qiu, Yong-Hong Hu, Jun Yang, Xiao-Ya Chen, Cathie Martin, Qing Zhao
Summary: The study found that methoxylated flavones have strong ability to induce apoptosis and enhance bioactivity, with methoxylation not causing side effects on healthy cells. Both type I and type II OMT enzymes are involved in the biosynthesis of methoxylated flavones in S. baicalensis.
PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jing-Jing Xu, Xiao-Fan Zhang, Yan Jiang, Hang Fan, Jian-Xu Li, Chen-Yi Li, Qing Zhao, Lei Yang, Yong-Hong Hu, Cathie Martin, Xiao-Ya Chen
Summary: CoqF is a unique flavin-dependent monooxygenase used for C6-hydroxylation in eukaryotes, widely distributed in photosynthetic organisms. It predominates in the green lineage on the eukaryotic tree, indicating its significance in terrestrial photoautotrophic organisms.
Article
Cell Biology
Chen-Yi Li, Lei Yang, Yan Liu, Zhou-Geng Xu, Jian Gao, Yan-Bo Huang, Jing-Jing Xu, Hang Fan, Yu Kong, Yu-Kun Wei, Wen-Li Hu, Ling-Jian Wang, Qing Zhao, Yong-Hong Hu, Yi-Jing Zhang, Cathie Martin, Xiao-Ya Chen
Summary: In this study, a high-quality sage genome was assembled, revealing a biosynthetic gene cluster encoding diterpene synthases and expression cascades responsible for diterpenoid production in different organs. The study also found that Salvia species in East Asia are herbaceous and accumulate diterpenoids in storage roots.
Article
Plant Sciences
Xueying Chen, Yao-Qian Liu, Man-Ni Wu, Lei Yan, Chun-Yu Chen, Yu-Pei Mu, Yu-Jie Liu, Mu-Yang Wang, Xiao-Ya Chen, Ying-Bo Mao
Summary: The venom-like proteins in caterpillar oral secretion interfere with plant defense by binding to transcription factors, making plants more susceptible to herbivory.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Junhui Yuan, Sanjie Jiang, Jianbo Jian, Mingyu Liu, Zhen Yue, Jiabao Xu, Juan Li, Chunyan Xu, Lihong Lin, Yi Jing, Xiaoxiao Zhang, Haixin Chen, Linjuan Zhang, Tao Fu, Shuiyan Yu, Zhangyan Wu, Ying Zhang, Chongzhi Wang, Xiao Zhang, Liangbo Huang, Hongqi Wang, Deyuan Hong, Xiao-Ya Chen, Yonghong Hu
Summary: This study reports the chromosome-level genome assembly of tree peony and reveals the mechanisms of its giant genome formation and the key genes involved in alpha-linolenic acid synthesis in tree peony seeds. The genomic resources provided in this study will be valuable for researching chromosome/genome evolution and tree peony breeding.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Review
Biology
Xingpeng Wen, Zhiwen Chen, Zuoren Yang, Maojun Wang, Shuangxia Jin, Guangda Wang, Li Zhang, Lingjian Wang, Jianying Li, Sumbul Saeed, Shoupu He, Zhi Wang, Kun Wang, Zhaosheng Kong, Fuguang Li, Xianlong Zhang, Xiaoya Chen, Yuxian Zhu
Summary: Cotton is an economic crop with elongated fiber cells that have been extensively studied in terms of multi-genome assembly, genome editing, fiber development mechanism, and metabolite biosynthesis. Research has revealed the origin of cotton species, asymmetric chromatin structure in fibers, and the role of candidate genes in fiber development. The synthesis of secondary metabolites, resistance to diseases, and plant architecture regulation have also been investigated. This review summarizes the important achievements in cotton molecular biology and provides theoretical support for future research.
SCIENCE CHINA-LIFE SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jia-Ling Lin, Xin Fang, Jian-Xu Li, Zhi-Wen Chen, Wen-Kai Wu, Xiao-Xiang Guo, Ning-Jing Liu, Jia-Fa Huang, Fang-Yan Chen, Ling-Jian Wang, Baofu Xu, Cathie Martin, Xiao-Ya Chen, Jin-Quan Huang
Summary: This study identified two dirigent proteins responsible for the biosynthesis of the two enantiomers of gossypol in cotton. Editing one of the dirigent proteins selectively removed the toxic (-)-gossypol in cotton seeds without affecting pest resistance. Our study offers insight into how plants control enantiomeric ratios and how to selectively modify the chemical spectra of cotton plants and thereby improve crop quality.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ningjing Liu, Lipan Hou, Xin Chen, Jingjing Bao, Fangyan Chen, Wenjuan Cai, Huixian Zhu, Lingjian Wang, Xiaoya Chen
Summary: In this study, TETRASPANIN8 (TET8) in Arabidopsis thaliana was identified as a carrier protein for sphingolipids and was found to regulate the export of glycosyl inositol phosphoceramides (GIPCs). TET8 interacted with the coat protein complex I (COPI) subunit gamma 2-COPI and facilitated the transportation of GIPCs from the Golgi apparatus to the plasma membrane.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jing-Jing Xu, Mei Hu, Lei Yang, Xiao-Ya Chen
Summary: This article summarizes the research progress on CoQ biosynthesis and regulation in plants and recent efforts to increase the CoQ content in plant foods.
PLANT COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jiao-Jiao Song, Xin Fang, Chen-Yi Li, Yan Jiang, Jian-Xu Li, Sheng Wu, Juan Guo, Yan Liu, Hang Fan, Yan-Bo Huang, Yu-Kun Wei, Yu Kong, Qing Zhao, Jing-Jing Xu, Yong-Hong Hu, Xiao-Ya Chen, Lei Yang
Summary: A 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase (2-ODD) gene responsible for tanshinone IIA biosynthesis in Salvia miltiorrhiza was identified in this study. The gene, known as Sm2-ODD14, acts as a dehydrogenase and catalyzes the aromatization of the furan ring. The study also showed that Sm2-ODD14 controls the metabolite flux from dihydrofuran- to furan-tanshinones, which impacts the medicinal properties of S. miltiorrhiza.
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Jin-Quan Huang, Dong-Mei Li, Jian-Xu Li, Jia-Ling Lin, Xiu Tian, Ling-Jian Wang, Xiao-Ya Chen, Xin Fang
Summary: The research identified a crucial residue that determines product specificity of sesquiterpene synthases from different plant species, with a key role in 1,10-cyclization reactions. This residue can be engineered to improve the production of high-value terpenoids like patchoulol for potential medicinal use against SARS-CoV-2.
ORGANIC & BIOMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY
(2021)