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Low temperature enhanced the podophyllotoxin accumulation vis-a-vis its biosynthetic pathway gene(s) expression in Dysosma versipellis (Hance) M. Cheng - A pharmaceutically important medicinal plant

Authors Palaniyandi, Karuppaiya; Jun, Wu

Journal PROCESS BIOCHEMISTRY , AUG 2020,:95

DOI 10.1016/j.procbio.2020.02.009

Abstract Dysosma versipellis (Hance) M. Chang is an endemic and endangered Chinese medicinal herb. Podophyllotoxin, a lead compound for the semi-synthesis of clinically useful anticancer compounds, is the main active aryltetralin lignan accumulated in D. versipellis. In this study, morphology and physiology traits in response to podophyllotoxin accumulation and its biosynthetic pathway genes expression were investigated in D. versipellis plants grown at low temperature (4 similar to 6 degrees C) and greenhouse (25 similar to 30 degrees C) temperature. Our study found that low temperature significantly increased plant biomass (2.7-fold), chlorophyll, and carotenoid content compared to greenhouse temperature. The mRNA expression analysis of podophyllotoxin pathway genes secoisolariciresinol dehydrogenase and pinoresionol lariciresinol reductase expression levels were also up-regulated by low temperature. In addition, plants grown at low temperature markedly increased podophyllotoxin accumulation to 3.49-fold in rhizome of D. versipellis than the greenhouse temperature. These results suggest that plants at low temperature enhance the accumulation of podophyllotoxin in rhizome of D. versipellis by over-expressing podophyllotoxin pathway genes. This study finding could be useful in the producing pharmaceutically important podophyllotoxin without overexploiting this endangered species.

Species covered 八角莲 Dysosma versipellis