Scholarlink

Background <p><i>Pilocarpus microphyllus</i>, widely known as jaborandi, faces a decline in its natural population due to unsustainable harvesting for pilocarpine extraction, an imidazole alkaloid with significant pharmacological properties. This study presents the first comparative transcriptomic analysis in jaborandi by investigating gene expression across four different tissues (leaflets, rachis, root, and stem) and exploring potential pathways and functions involved in pilocarpine biosynthesis.</p> Results <p>The comparisons involving the root had the highest number of DEGs, including root vs. leaflets, rachis vs. root, and stem vs. root. In contrast, no DEGs were identified in the comparison between stem and leaflets. We observed that the root exhibited the most diverse functional profile, including an abundance of TFs involved in alkaloid biosynthesis. Functional enrichment analysis of root-overexpressed genes revealed associations with cell transport, regulatory processes, and defense responses. In contrast, aerial tissues exhibited enrichment for photosynthesis and oxidative stress response pathways, with antioxidant enzymes highly expressed in the leaflets—the primary site of pilocarpine accumulation in its final form—suggesting a potential link between pilocarpine production and the plant’s antioxidative response.</p> Conclusions <p>The presence of enzymes potentially involved in pilocarpine biosynthesis in both aerial and root tissues supports the idea that its biosynthesis is a multi-tissue process. This study provides important insights into the metabolic pathways for advancing conservation strategies and promoting sustainable management of this species.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Decoding pilocarpine biosynthesis and its roles in Pilocarpus microphyllus through a comparative transcriptomics approach

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2025年8月4日

查看全文
  • Mariane Brom Sobreiro,
  • Giordano Bruno Soares-Souza,
  • Leandro Magalhães,
  • Débora de Morais Cordeiro,
  • Michele Molina,
  • Santelmo Vasconcelos,
  • Yan Nunes Dias,
  • Renato R. Moreira-Oliveira,
  • Markus Gastauer,
  • Silvio Ramos,
  • Guilherme Oliveira,
  • Cecílio Frois Caldeira,
  • Amanda F. Vidal

摘要

Background

Pilocarpus microphyllus, widely known as jaborandi, faces a decline in its natural population due to unsustainable harvesting for pilocarpine extraction, an imidazole alkaloid with significant pharmacological properties. This study presents the first comparative transcriptomic analysis in jaborandi by investigating gene expression across four different tissues (leaflets, rachis, root, and stem) and exploring potential pathways and functions involved in pilocarpine biosynthesis.

Results

The comparisons involving the root had the highest number of DEGs, including root vs. leaflets, rachis vs. root, and stem vs. root. In contrast, no DEGs were identified in the comparison between stem and leaflets. We observed that the root exhibited the most diverse functional profile, including an abundance of TFs involved in alkaloid biosynthesis. Functional enrichment analysis of root-overexpressed genes revealed associations with cell transport, regulatory processes, and defense responses. In contrast, aerial tissues exhibited enrichment for photosynthesis and oxidative stress response pathways, with antioxidant enzymes highly expressed in the leaflets—the primary site of pilocarpine accumulation in its final form—suggesting a potential link between pilocarpine production and the plant’s antioxidative response.

Conclusions

The presence of enzymes potentially involved in pilocarpine biosynthesis in both aerial and root tissues supports the idea that its biosynthesis is a multi-tissue process. This study provides important insights into the metabolic pathways for advancing conservation strategies and promoting sustainable management of this species.