The Arabidopsis PAP1 Transcription Factor Plays an Important Role in the Enrichment of Phenolic Acids in Salvia miltiorrhiza

• Published in: Journal of agricultural and food chemistry 2010-12, Vol.58 (23), p.12168-12175
• Main Authors: Zhang, Yuan, Yan, Ya-Ping, Wang, Zhe-Zhi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: antioxidant activity; Arabidopsis; arabidopsis PAP1 transcription factor; Arabidopsis Proteins - genetics; Arabidopsis Proteins - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; biosynthesis; Chemical Aspects of Biotechnology/Molecular Biology; Food industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression; Hydroxybenzoates - analysis; Hydroxybenzoates - metabolism; medicinal plants; Pancreatitis-Associated Proteins; phenolic acids; phenotype; Plants, Genetically Modified - chemistry; Plants, Genetically Modified - genetics; Plants, Genetically Modified - metabolism; Salvia miltiorrhiza; Salvia miltiorrhiza - chemistry; Salvia miltiorrhiza - genetics; Salvia miltiorrhiza - metabolism; secondary metabolites; transcription factors; Transcription Factors - genetics; Transcription Factors - metabolism; transgenes; transgenic plants
• ISSN: 0021-8561; 1520-5118
• DOI: 10.1021/jf103203e

Phenolic acids are health-promoting but low content secondary metabolites in Salvia miltiorrhiza. Here, the Arabidopsis transcription factor Production of Anthocyanin Pigment 1 (AtPAP1) was expressed in S. miltiorrhiza and improved the antioxidant capacity in transgenic plants up to 3-fold. Salvianolic acid B (Sal B) biosynthesis was strongly induced (10-fold higher) in 1 month old transgenic plantlets, a growth stage not normally characterized by significant levels of phenolic acids. This high-Sal B phenotype was stable in roots during vegetative growth, with tissues accumulating approximately 73.27 mg/g of dry weight. Total phenolics, total flavonoids, anthocyanin, and lignin were also significantly enhanced. Consistent with these biological and phytochemical changes, expression of phenolic acid biosynthetic genes was stimulated. Our results demonstrate that AtPAP1 has an additional, previously unknown, role as a transcriptional activator of phenolic acid biosynthesis in S. miltiorrhiza. The results provide a promising strategy for engineering phenolics production in economically significant medicinal plants.