Preprint / Version 1

De novo transcriptome based insights into secondary metabolite biosynthesis in Malaxis acuminata (Jeevak)–A therapeutically important orchid

Authors

  • Paromik Bhattacharyya Biotechnology Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, India
  • Tanvi Sharma Biotechnology Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, India
  • Abhinandan Yadav Studio of Computational Biology & Bioinformatics, The Himalayan Centre for High-throughput Computational Biology (HiCHiCoB, A BIC supported by DBT, India), Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT), Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, India
  • Lucy Lalthafamkimi Agrotechnology and Rural Development Division (ARDD), CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology, Jorhat, Assam, India
  • Ritu Studio of Computational Biology & Bioinformatics, The Himalayan Centre for High-throughput Computational Biology (HiCHiCoB, A BIC supported by DBT, India), Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT), Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, India
  • Mohit Swarnkar Biotechnology Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, India
  • Robin Joshi Chemical Technology Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, India
  • Ravi Shankar Studio of Computational Biology & Bioinformatics, The Himalayan Centre for High-throughput Computational Biology (HiCHiCoB, A BIC supported by DBT, India), Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT), Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, India
  • Sanjay Kumar Biotechnology Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, India

Keywords:

Ashtvarga, Ayurveda, eugenol, meta-Topolin (mT), transcriptome, orchid, β-sitosterol

Abstract

Malaxis acuminata D. Don [=Crepidium acuminatum (D. Don) Szlach.] is an endangered medicinal orchid of the Ashtvarga group of plants in Ayurveda (Indian system of traditional medicine). Using a combination of aromatic cytokinin [meta-Topolin (mT)], plant biostimulant (chitosan), auxin [indole-3-butyric acid (IBA)], and a phenolic elicitor [phloroglucinol (PG)], plants of M. acuminata were regenerated in vitro for mass multiplication. The present research reveals the first-ever transcriptome of M. acuminata. A total of 43,111 transcripts encoding 23,951 unigenes were assembled de novo from a total of 815.02 million reads obtained from leaf and pseudobulb of in vitro raised M. acuminata. Expression analysis of genes associated with β-sitosterol and eugenol biosynthesis in leaf and pseudobulb provided vital clues for differential accumulation of metabolites in M. acuminata. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) confirmed higher amounts of β-sitosterol and eugenol content in the leaf as compared to the pseudobulb. Differential expression of transcripts related to starch and sucrose metabolism, plant hormone signal transduction, diterpenoid biosynthesis, phenylalanine metabolism, stilbenoid, diarylheptanoid, and gingerol biosynthesis suggested the operation of differential metabolic pathways in leaf and pseudobulb. The present research provides valuable information on the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites in M. acuminata, which could be used for advanced metabolite bioprospection using cell suspension culture and bioreactor-based approaches. Data also suggested that leaf tissues rather than pseudobulb can be used as an alternate source of bioactive metabolites thereby shifting the need for harvesting the pseudobulb. This will further facilitate the conservation and sustainable utilization of this highly valued medicinal orchid. Keywords: Ashtvarga, Ayurveda, eugenol, meta-Topolin (mT), transcriptome, orchid, β-sitosterol

Author Biographies

Lucy Lalthafamkimi, Agrotechnology and Rural Development Division (ARDD), CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology, Jorhat, Assam, India

Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India

Ritu, Studio of Computational Biology & Bioinformatics, The Himalayan Centre for High-throughput Computational Biology (HiCHiCoB, A BIC supported by DBT, India), Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT), Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, India

Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India

Ravi Shankar, Studio of Computational Biology & Bioinformatics, The Himalayan Centre for High-throughput Computational Biology (HiCHiCoB, A BIC supported by DBT, India), Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT), Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, India

Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India

Sanjay Kumar, Biotechnology Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, India

Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India

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