Genomic characterization of AP2/ERF transcription factors related to cannabinoids biosynthesis in Cannabis sativa

IF 11.2 4区医学 Q1 CHEMISTRY, MEDICINAL

Chinese Herbal Medicines Pub Date : 2026-10-01 Epub Date: 2025-06-18 DOI:10.1016/j.chmed.2025.06.001

Wei Yao, Lirong Su, Zhimei Lu, Jitong Chen, Lixin Duan, Xiangxiao Meng, Huihua Wan, Shilin Chen, Yaolei Mi, Aijia Ji

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objective

Cannabinoids, secondary metabolites produced by Cannabis sativa (cannabis), have various pharmacological effects, such as anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, and they can be used in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Although the biosynthetic pathway of cannabinoids has been elucidated, relatively few reports about the transcription factors involved in this pathway exist. APETALA2 (AP2)/ethylene-responsive factor (ERF) transcription factor (TF) families play an important role in plant growth and secondary metabolism.

Methods

APETALA2 (AP2)/ethylene-responsive factor (ERF) transcription factor (TF) family was identified in cannabis plants via phylogenetic analysis, chromosomal distribution, gene structure, conserved motif identification, synteny analysis, alternative splicing event identification, response element prediction, and gene expression analysis.

Results

A total of 111 AP2/ERF members belonging to the APETALA2 subfamily (17 genes), dehydration-responsive element-binding proteins subfamily (39 genes), and ethylene-responsive factor subfamily (53 genes), related to the ABI3/VP1 subfamily (two genes), exist in cannabis. Based on the expression profiles of AP2/ERFs in the genome, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) detection and coexpression analysis results, the functional genes of six TFs were clustered with those of other species, and two gene clusters are speculated to be related to cannabinoid biosynthesis. A total of six CsERF proteins were found to be located in the cell nucleus by subcellular localization detection. CsERF02 and CsERF19 exhibited transcriptional activation activity through the AH109 yeast system.

Conclusion

CsERF02, CsERF05, CsERF18, CsERF19, CsERF21, CsERF46 and two gene clusters may function in cannabinoid biosynthesis. These results contribute to the characterization of functional AP2/ERF family members in cannabis and lay a foundation for regulating cannabinoid content through metabolic pathways.

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大麻素生物合成相关AP2/ERF转录因子的基因组特征

目的大麻素是大麻（Cannabis sativa）产生的次生代谢产物，具有抗炎、镇痛等多种药理作用，可用于治疗阿尔茨海默病。虽然大麻素的生物合成途径已经被阐明，但关于这一途径所涉及的转录因子的报道相对较少。aptala2 (AP2)/乙烯响应因子（ERF）转录因子（TF）家族在植物生长和次生代谢中发挥重要作用。方法通过系统发育分析、染色体分布、基因结构、保守基序鉴定、同源性分析、选择性剪接事件鉴定、应答元件预测和基因表达分析等方法，对大麻植物sapetala2 (AP2)/乙烯响应因子（ERF）转录因子（TF）家族进行鉴定。结果大麻中存在111个AP2/ERF成员，分别属于与ABI3/VP1亚家族（2个基因）相关的aptala2亚家族（17个基因）、脱水反应元件结合蛋白亚家族（39个基因）和乙烯反应因子亚家族（53个基因）。根据AP2/ERFs在基因组中的表达谱、qRT-PCR检测及共表达分析结果，将6个TFs的功能基因与其他物种的功能基因聚类，推测其中2个基因簇与大麻素生物合成有关。通过亚细胞定位检测，共发现6个CsERF蛋白位于细胞核内。CsERF02和CsERF19在AH109酵母系统中表现出转录激活活性。结论cserf02、CsERF05、CsERF18、CsERF19、CsERF21、CsERF46和两个基因簇可能在大麻素生物合成中起作用。这些结果有助于表征大麻中AP2/ERF家族成员的功能，并为通过代谢途径调节大麻素含量奠定基础。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Chinese Herbal Medicines CHEMISTRY, MEDICINAL-

CiteScore

4.40

自引率

5.30%

发文量

629

审稿时长

10 weeks

期刊介绍： Chinese Herbal Medicines is intended to disseminate the latest developments and research progress in traditional and herbal medical sciences to researchers, practitioners, academics and administrators worldwide in the field of traditional and herbal medicines. The journal's international coverage ensures that research and progress from all regions of the world are widely included. CHM is a core journal of Chinese science and technology. The journal entered into the ESCI database in 2017, and then was included in PMC, Scopus and other important international search systems. In 2019, CHM was successfully selected for the “China Science and Technology Journal Excellence Action Plan” project, which has markedly improved its international influence and industry popularity. CHM obtained the first impact factor of 3.8 in Journal Citation Reports (JCR) in 2023.