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Identification of a Novel (-)-5-Epieremophilene Synthase from Salvia miltiorrhiza via Transcriptome Mining

Authors Fang, Xin; Li, Chen-Yi; Yang, Yue; Cui, Meng-Ying; Chen, Xiao-Ya; Yang, Lei

Journal FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE , APR 25 2017,:8

DOI 10.3389/fpls.2017.00627 PubMed 28487717

Abstract Salvia miltiorrhiza, a medicinal plant in China, has been used for thousands of years to treat coronary heart diseases. Although biosynthesis of tanshinones, a group of diterpenoids in S. miltiorrhiza, has been extensively investigated, to date we know little about the formation of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes in this medicinal plant. Here, we report the characterization of three sesquiterpene synthases, named SmSTPS1, SmSTPS2, and SmSTPS3, which catalyzed the formation of a new compound, (-)-5-epieremophilene. Additionally, the (-)-5-epieremophilene biosynthesis activity of SmSTPS1 was confirmed by transient expression in Nicotiana benthamiana. Despite the similar enzyme activities of SmSTPS1, SmSTPS2, and SmSTPS3, the three (-)-5-epieremophilene synthase genes displayed different spatial expression patterns and responded differently to hormone treatments, implicating their specific roles in plant-environment interactions. Our results provide valuable data to understanding the biosynthesis and composition of terpenes in plant.

Species covered 丹参 Salvia miltiorrhiza