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The jasmonate‐responsive Aa MYC 2 transcription factor positively regulates artemisinin biosynthesis in Artemisia annua
Author(s) -
Shen Qian,
Lu Xu,
Yan Tingxiang,
Fu Xueqing,
Lv Zongyou,
Zhang Fangyuan,
Pan Qifang,
Wang Guofeng,
Sun Xiaofen,
Tang Kexuan
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/nph.13874
Subject(s) - artemisia annua , artemisinin , methyl jasmonate , jasmonic acid , sesquiterpene lactone , jasmonate , biology , biosynthesis , gene , promoter , transcription factor , transgene , biochemistry , gene expression , plasmodium falciparum , botany , sesquiterpene , arabidopsis , malaria , mutant , immunology
Summary The plant Artemisia annua is well known due to the production of artemisinin, a sesquiterpene lactone that is widely used in malaria treatment. Phytohormones play important roles in plant secondary metabolism, such as jasmonic acid ( JA ), which can induce artemisinin biosynthesis in A. annua . Nevertheless, the JA ‐inducing mechanism remains poorly understood. The expression of gene Aa MYC 2 was rapidly induced by JA and Aa MYC 2 binds the G‐box‐like motifs within the promoters of gene CYP 71 AV 1 and DBR 2 , which are key structural genes in the artemisinin biosynthetic pathway. Overexpression of Aa MYC 2 in A. annua significantly activated the transcript levels of CYP 71 AV 1 and DBR 2 , which resulted in an increased artemisinin content. By contrast, artemisinin content was reduced in the RNA i transgenic A. annua plants in which the expression of Aa MYC 2 was suppressed. Meanwhile, the RNA i transgenic A. annua plants showed lower sensitivity to methyl jasmonate treatment than the wild‐type plants. These results demonstrate that Aa MYC 2 is a positive regulator of artemisinin biosynthesis and is of great value in genetic engineering of A. annua for increased artemisinin production.