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Discovery and modulation of diterpenoid metabolism improves glandular trichome formation, artemisinin production and stress resilience in Artemisia annua
Author(s) -
Chen Ruibing,
Bu Yuejuan,
Ren Junze,
Pelot Kyle A.,
Hu Xiangyang,
Diao Yong,
Chen Wansheng,
Zerbe Philipp,
Zhang Lei
Publication year - 2021
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.17351
Subject(s) - artemisia annua , artemisinin , biology , terpenoid , metabolic engineering , trichome , metabolic pathway , metabolomics , transcriptome , secondary metabolism , metabolism , plastid , biochemistry , diterpene , biosynthesis , metabolite , abiotic stress , botany , bioinformatics , gene expression , gene , plasmodium falciparum , chloroplast , malaria , immunology
Summary Plants synthesize diverse diterpenoids with numerous functions in organ development and stress resistance. However, the role of diterpenoids in glandular trichome (GT) development and GT‐localized biosynthesis in plants remains unknown. Here, the identification of 10 diterpene synthases (diTPSs) revealed the diversity of diterpenoid biosynthesis in Artemisia annua . Protein–protein interactions (PPIs) between Aa KSL1 and Aa CPS2 in the plastids highlighted their potential functions in modulating metabolic flux to gibberellins (GAs) or ent‐ isopimara‐7,15‐diene‐derived metabolites (IDMs) through metabolic engineering. A phenotypic analysis of transgenic plants suggested a complex repertoire of diterpenoids in Artemisia annua with important roles in GT formation, artemisinin accumulation and stress resilience. Metabolic engineering of diterpenoids simultaneously increased the artemisinin yield and stress resistance. Transcriptome and metabolic profiling suggested that bioactive GA 4 /GA 1 promote GT formation. Collectively, these results expand our knowledge of diterpenoids and show the potential of diterpenoids to simultaneously improve both the GT‐localized metabolite yield and stress resistance, in planta .