Authors: Martin J Spiering Lori A Urban Donald L Nuss Vivek Gopalan Arlin Stoltzfus Edward Eisenstein
Publish Date: 2010/12/28
Volume: 30, Issue: 4, Pages: 613-629
Abstract
Black cohosh Actaea racemosa L syn Cimicifuga racemosa Nutt Ranunculaceae is a popular herb used for relieving menopausal discomforts A variety of secondary metabolites including triterpenoids phenolic dimers and serotonin derivatives have been associated with its biological activity but the genes and metabolic pathways as well as the tissue distribution of their production in this plant are unknown A gene discovery effort was initiated in A racemosa by partial sequencing of cDNA libraries constructed from young leaf rhizome and root tissues In total 2066 expressed sequence tags ESTs were assembled into 1590 unique genes unigenes Most of the unigenes were predicted to encode primary metabolism genes but about 70 were identified as putative secondary metabolism genes Several of these candidates were analyzed further and fulllength cDNA and genomic sequences for a putative 23 oxidosqualene cyclase CAS1 and two BAHDtype acyltransferases ACT1 and HCT1 were obtained Homologybased PCR screening for the central gene in plant serotonin biosynthesis tryptophan decarboxylase TDC identified two TDCrelated sequences in A racemosa CAS1 ACT1 and HCT1 were expressed in most plant tissues whereas expression of TDC genes was detected only sporadically in immature flower heads and some very young leaf tissues The cDNA libraries described and assorted genes identified provide initial insight into gene content and diversity in black cohosh and provide tools and resources for detailed investigations of secondary metabolite genes and enzymes in this important medicinal plant
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