Bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids (bis-BIAs) and chlorophyll (Chl) are predominantly accumulated in lotus plumule which is a green tissue in the middle of seeds. Although bis-BIAs and Chl endow lotus plumule with important medicinal value and environmental adaptability respectively, the biosynthetic mechanisms of these two metabolites remain largely unknown in lotus.

A research team from Wuhan Botanical Garden used RNA sequencing technology to reveal the development and molecular mechanisms of bis-BIAs and Chl biosynthesis in lotus plumule.

Lotus plumule accumulated liensinine, isoliensinine, and neferine, with neferine as the most dominant bis-BIA. A total of 16 structural genes potentially involved in bis-BIAs biosynthesis were identified in the lotus plumule. Of these, 12 differentially expressed O-methyltransferases (OMTs) genes were likely involved in the methylation and bis-BIAs diversity in lotus. In addition, some BIAs biosynthesis gene pairs showed functional redundancy and divergence between paralogous members in lotus.

Rapid biosynthesis and accumulation of Chl was detected from 12 to 21 days after pollination, which was consistent with the observed change in plumule color. 22 genes encoding 16 conserved enzymes of the Chl biosynthesis pathway were identified, with the majority being significantly upregulated by Chl biosynthesis. In addition, light-driven Pchlide reduction was essential for Chl biosynthesis in lotus plumule. Notably, photosynthesis and Chl biosynthesis pathways were simultaneously activated during lotus plumule development.

This study also revealed the potential connections between bis-BIAs and Chl biosynthesis pathways in lotus plumule. These results will be useful for enhancing our understanding of alkaloids and Chl biosynthesis in plants.

The research has been published in Frontiers in Plant Science entitled “Transcriptome-Wide Characterization of Alkaloids and Chlorophyll Biosynthesis in Lotus Plumule”. It was funded by the Biological Resources Program, CAS, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and the Hubei Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China.

Identification and expression analysis of bis-BIAs biosynthesis genes (Image by WBG)