Breakthrough in Perilla research reveals key insights into monoterpene biosynthesis

Perilla frutescens, a versatile medicinal and edible plant, has been widely cultivated across Asia. The plant's leaves are rich in essential oils and are commonly used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and various culinary applications. The essential oils contain diverse chemical makeup, including terpenes, flavonoids, and phenolic acids, which contribute to Perilla's medicinal value and industrial use in skincare and aromatherapy. The plant's monoterpenes are categorized into several chemotypes, including perillaldehyde (PA), perillaketone (PK), perillene (PL), and piperitenone (PT). PA is a primary component in traditional medicines, while PL, PK, and PT are essential in the fragrance and food industries.

A study (DOI: 10.48130/mpb-0024-0017) published in Medicinal Plant Biology on 03 September 2024, leads to the development of Perilla varieties optimized for higher yields of desired compounds, enhancing the plant's economic value.

The research employed Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis to identify volatile essential oil components in four different Perilla cultivars. In total, researchers identified 35 terpene compounds, including 22 monoterpenes and 13 sesquiterpenes, consistent with each chemotype. For example, perillaldehyde (PA) was the dominant compound (68.01%) in the PA-type cultivar, while perillaketone (PK) made up 88.76% of the PK-type. Additionally, trace amounts of compounds like geraniol and linalool were found across all cultivars.

To explore the genetic basis of monoterpene biosynthesis, transcriptome analysis was conducted, resulting in the identification of 5,920 differentially expressed genes, including 69 involved in the mevalonate (MVA) and methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathways, which are key to terpene biosynthesis.  The study highlighted the upregulation of specific genes in different chemotypes, particularly in the PA-type. Additionally, 109 terpene synthase (TPS) genes were identified, and functional characterization revealed that four of these genes (PfTPS18, PfTPS46, PfTPS47, and PfTPS49) are responsible for synthesizing linalool and geraniol, two important compounds in fragrance and medicinal industries.

This breakthrough in Perilla research marks a pivotal moment in the study of plant-derived essential oils. By unlocking the molecular mechanisms behind monoterpene biosynthesis, the research paves the way for new applications in medicine, agriculture, and industry, setting the stage for further exploration of this versatile and valuable plant.

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References

DOI

10.48130/mpb-0024-0017

Original Source URL

https://doi.org/10.48130/mpb-0024-0017

Funding information

The National Natural Science Foundation of China Grant (U22A20446)

The National Natural Science Foundation for Regional Fund (31860391)

About Medicinal Plant Biology

Medicinal Plant Biology (e-ISSN 2835-6969) is an open access, online-only, rigorously peer-reviewed academic journal devoted to publishing original research articles, reviews, opinions, methods, editorials, letters, and perspectives on the studies related to all medicinal plants. Subjects include but are not limited to genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, metabolomic, biochemical, molecular, and omics-based techniques to investigate medicinal properties of plants.