Metabolomic and gene expression approaches reveal the developmental and environmental regulation of the secondary metabolism of yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius, Asteraceae)

Author(s)

Padilla-Gonzalez, Guillermo F. ^[1] ; Frey, Maximilian ^[2] ; Gomez-Zeledon, Javier ^[2] ; Da Costa, Fernando B. ^[1] ; Spring, Otmar ^[2]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Pharmaceut Sci Ribeirao Preto, Lab Pharmacognosy, AsterBioChem Res Team, Av Cafe S-N, BR-14040903 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Hohenheim, Inst Bot, Garbenstr 30, D-70599 Stuttgart - Germany

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS; v. 9, SEP 11 2019.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Acting as chemical defense or signaling compounds, secondary metabolites (SMs) play an essential role in the evolutionary success of many angiosperm plant families. However, the adaptive advantages that SMs confer, and the influence of environmental and developmental factors on SMs expression, remains poorly understood. A study of taxa endemic to the variable Andean climate, using a metabolomics approach, may provide further insight. By analyzing gene expression patterns and metabolic fingerprints, we report herein the developmental and environmental regulation of the secondary metabolism of Smallanthus sonchifolius (yacon), a medicinal Andean plant. Our results demonstrate a clear developmental stage dependent regulation of the secondary metabolism of yacon leaves wherein the metabolic diversity increases with plant age. However, environmental factors seem to regulate biosynthetic pathways, creating differences in the expression of chemical classes, pointing to an association between transcription levels of relevant genes and the relative amounts of more than 40 different metabolites. This study suggests that the secondary metabolism of yacon is regulated by a complex interplay between environmental factors and developmental stage and provides insight into the regulatory factors and adaptive roles of SMs in Andean taxa. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/26866-7 - Metabolomics, enzymatic targets and in silico tools in the search of bioactive compounds from plants
• Grantee: Fernando Batista da Costa
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 16/21183-4 - Metabolic fingerprinting and biosynthesis of sesquiterpene lactones in Smallanthus sonchifolius and Espeletia (Asteraceae): a metabolomic and transcriptomic approach
• Grantee: Guillermo Federico Padilla Gonzalez
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 14/17702-0 - Metabolomics and evolution of chemical characters in the subtribe Espeletiinae (Asteraceae)
• Grantee: Guillermo Federico Padilla Gonzalez
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate