Comparative transcriptome analysis reveals genes involved in trichome development and metabolism in tobacco

• Published in: BMC plant biology Vol. 24; no. 1; pp. 541 - 17
• Main Authors: Chen, Mingli, Li, Zhiyuan, He, Xinxi, Zhang, Zhe, Wang, Dong, Cui, Luying, Xie, Minmin, Zhao, Zeyu, Sun, Quan, Wang, Dahai, Dai, Jiameng, Gong, Daping
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 13.06.2024; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Agricultural research; Bioflavonoids; Bioreactors; Biosynthesis; Comparative analysis; Cutin; Development; DNA binding proteins; Exudation; Flavones; Flavonoids; Flowers & plants; Gene expression; Gene Expression Profiling; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Gene regulation; Gene sequencing; Genes; Genes, Plant; Genetic aspects; Genetic research; Genetic transcription; Genomes; Glandular trichomes; Insects; Leaves; Metabolism; Metabolites; Molecular modelling; Natural products; Nicotiana - genetics; Nicotiana - growth & development; Nicotiana - metabolism; Nicotiana tabacum; Pathogens; Pests; Physiological aspects; Plant metabolites; Plant Proteins - genetics; Plant Proteins - metabolism; Plants; Proteins; RNA; RNA sequencing; Scanning electron microscopy; Secondary metabolism; Secondary metabolites; Tobacco; Tobacco (Plant); Transcription factors; Transcription Factors - genetics; Transcription Factors - metabolism; Transcriptome; Transcriptomes; Trichomes; Trichomes - genetics; Trichomes - growth & development; Trichomes - metabolism; Waxes; China; United States > US; Development; Tobacco; Transcription factors; Secondary metabolism; Glandular trichomes
• ISSN: 1471-2229; 1471-2229
• DOI: 10.1186/s12870-024-05265-4

The glandular trichomes of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) can efficiently produce secondary metabolites. They act as natural bioreactors, and their natural products function to protect plants against insect-pests and pathogens and are also components of industrial chemicals. To clarify the molecular mechanisms of tobacco glandular trichome development and secondary metabolic regulation, glandular trichomes and glandless trichomes, as well as other different developmental tissues, were used for RNA sequencing and analysis. By comparing glandless and glandular trichomes with other tissues, we obtained differentially expressed genes. They were obviously enriched in KEGG pathways, such as cutin, suberine, and wax biosynthesis, flavonoid and isoflavonoid biosynthesis, terpenoid biosynthesis, and plant-pathogen interaction. In particular, the expression levels of genes related to the terpenoid, flavonoid, and wax biosynthesis pathway mainly showed down-regulation in glandless trichomes, implying that they lack the capability to synthesize certain exudate compounds. Among the differentially expressed genes, 234 transcription factors were found, including AP2-ERFs, MYBs, bHLHs, WRKYs, Homeoboxes (HD-ZIP), and C2H2-ZFs. These transcription factor and genes that highly expressed in trichomes or specially expressed in GT or GLT. Following the overexpression of R2R3-MYB transcription factor Nitab4.5_0011760g0030.1 in tobacco, an increase in the number of branched glandular trichomes was observed. Our data provide comprehensive gene expression information at the transcriptional level and an understanding of the regulatory pathways involved in glandular trichome development and secondary metabolism.