@article{yuzuak_ballington_li_xie_2024, title={HPLC-qTOF-MS/MS Based Profiling Reveals Anthocyanin Profile Alterations in Berries of Hybrid Muscadine Variety FLH 13-11 in Two Continuous Cropping Seasons}, url={https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202402.0098.v1}, DOI={10.20944/preprints202402.0098.v1}, abstractNote={FLH 13-11 is an F1 interspecific hybrid muscadine grape genotype that was developed to produce new anthocyanins for pigment color stability. This hybrid resulted from a cross between ‘Marsh’ (Vitis munsoniana) and ‘Magoon’ (V. rotundifolia). This report characterizes the anthocyanins produced in fully ripe berries, and reveals a significant difference in total anthocyanin contents from two continuous cropping seasons. High-performance liquid chromatography with a diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) and HPLC-quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-qTOF-MS/MS) were used to profile anthocyanins in berries. The resulting data showed that fourteen anthocyanins were detected, six from 2011 and nine from 2012, with only one produced in both seasons. However, the anthocyanidin profiles of berries were the same. Five anthocyanins were annotated as diglucosides of anthocyanidins based on MS/MS features, including delphinidin 3,5-diglucoside produced in both seasons, cyanidin 3,5-diglucoside mainly formed in 2011, petunidin 3,5-diglucoside, malvidin 3,5-diglucoside, and peonidin 3,5-glucoside only detected in 2012. Also, three anthocyanidin-diglucoside like anthocyanins and three monoglucosides including peonidin 3- glucoside, delphinidin 3- glucoside like, and pelargonidin 3- glucoside like anthocyanins, were detected in 2011 and 2012, respectively. These results indicate that FLH 13-11 can produce both anthocyanidin-diglucosides and -monoglucosides, and their biosynthesis is closely dependent on cropping years.}, author={YUZUAK, Seyit and Ballington, James and Li, Gui and Xie, Deyu}, year={2024}, month={Feb} } @article{yuzuak_ballington_li_xie_2024, title={High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Tandem Mass Spectrometry-Based Profiling Reveals Anthocyanin Profile Alterations in Berries of Hybrid Muscadine Variety FLH 13-11 in Two Continuous Cropping Seasons}, volume={14}, ISSN={["2073-4395"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030442}, DOI={10.3390/agronomy14030442}, abstractNote={FLH 13-11 is an F1 interspecific hybrid muscadine grape genotype that was developed to produce new anthocyanins for pigment color stability. This hybrid resulted from a cross between ‘Marsh’ (Vitis munsoniana) and ‘Magoon’ (V. rotundifolia) and has been cultivated for the wine and juice industry. This report characterizes anthocyanins produced in fully ripe berries and reveals a significant difference in total anthocyanin contents from two continuous cropping seasons. High-performance liquid chromatography with a diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) and HPLC–quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-qTOF-MS/MS) were used to profile anthocyanins in berries. The resulting data showed that fourteen anthocyanins were detected, six from 2011 and nine from 2012, with only one produced in both seasons. However, the anthocyanidin profiles of the berries were the same. Five anthocyanins were annotated as diglucosides of anthocyanidins based on MS/MS features, including delphinidin 3,5-diglucoside produced in both seasons, cyanidin 3,5-diglucoside mainly formed in 2011, petunidin 3,5-diglucoside, malvidin 3,5-diglucoside, and peonidin 3,5-glucoside only detected in 2012. Also, three anthocyanidin-diglucoside-like anthocyanins and three monoglucosides, including peonidin 3-glucoside, delphinidin 3-glucoside like, and pelargonidin 3-glucoside-like anthocyanins, were detected in 2011 and 2012, respectively. These results indicate that FLH 13-11 can produce both anthocyanidin-diglucosides and -monoglucosides, and their biosynthesis is closely dependent on cropping years.}, number={3}, journal={AGRONOMY-BASEL}, author={Yuzuak, Seyit and Ballington, James and Li, Gui and Xie, De-Yu}, year={2024}, month={Mar} } @article{li_ma_li_guo_li_liu_wang_jiang_xie_gao_et al._2024, title={Removal of the C4-domain preserves the drought tolerance enhanced by CsMYB4a and eliminates the negative impact of this transcription factor on plant growth}, volume={3}, ISSN={["2662-1738"]}, DOI={10.1007/s42994-024-00149-5}, abstractNote={Abstract}, journal={ABIOTECH}, author={Li, Mingzhuo and Ma, Guoliang and Li, Xiu and Guo, Lili and Li, Yanzhi and Liu, Yajun and Wang, Wenzhao and Jiang, Xiaolan and Xie, De-Yu and Gao, Liping and et al.}, year={2024}, month={Mar} } @article{he_weng_zhang_kong_wang_jing_li_ge_xiong_wu_et al._2023, title={A telomere-to-telomere reference genome provides genetic insight into the pentacyclic triterpenoid biosynthesis in Chaenomeles speciosa}, volume={10}, ISSN={["2052-7276"]}, DOI={10.1093/hr/uhad183}, abstractNote={Abstract}, number={10}, journal={HORTICULTURE RESEARCH}, author={He, Shaofang and Weng, Duanyang and Zhang, Yipeng and Kong, Qiusheng and Wang, Keyue and Jing, Naliang and Li, Fengfeng and Ge, Yuebin and Xiong, Hui and Wu, Lei and et al.}, year={2023}, month={Oct} } @article{de-yu_yuzuak_peng_2023, title={Anti-COVID-19 Pandemic Effect of Plant Flavonoids: Use of Green Tea Flavonoids}, url={https://zkxb.jsu.edu.cn/EN/A10.13438/j.cnki.jdzk.2023.02.010, DOI: A10.13438/j.cnki.jdzk.2023.02.010}, DOI={10.13438/j.cnki.jdzk.2023.02.010}, journal={Journal of Jishou University (NaturalSciencesEdition)}, author={DE-YU, XIE and Yuzuak, Seyit and Peng, Qingzhong}, editor={DE-YU, XIEEditor}, year={2023}, month={Mar} } @article{xi_wang_cagle_zhu_odle_xie_2023, title={Exploring the Prebiotic Activities of Proanthocyanidins on a Platform Using the Three-Dimensionally (3D)-Cultured Organoids}, volume={101}, ISSN={["1525-3163"]}, DOI={10.1093/jas/skad281.421}, abstractNote={Abstract}, journal={JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE}, author={Xi, Lin and Wang, Feng and Cagle, Daisy and Zhu, Yue and Odle, Jack and Xie, Deyu}, year={2023}, month={Nov}, pages={355–356} } @inbook{yuzuak_ma_lu_xie_2023, title={HPLC-MS(n) Applications in the Analysis of Anthocyanins in Fruits}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.110466}, DOI={10.5772/intechopen.110466}, abstractNote={Anthocyanins are water-soluble pink/red/blue/purple pigments found abundantly in the flesh and skin of fruits, flowers, and roots of different varieties of plants. Compared to vegetative tissues in many plants, fruits have much higher contents of anthocyanins. In general, anthocyanins have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, and antiapoptotic activities that benefit human health. To date, anthocyanins in many different fruits have gained intensive studies in structures, biosynthesis, genetics, and genomics. Despite this, difficulties exist in identifying anthocyanins with similar structures and precisely estimating contents within fruit matrices. To improve this challenge, high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) based metabolomics has been shown a powerful technology to distinguish structure-similar anthocyanins. This chapter reviews, summarizes, and discusses the application of HPLC-MS/MS in the annotation or identification of anthocyanins in fruits.}, booktitle={High Performance Liquid Chromatography - Recent Advances and Applications}, author={Yuzuak, Seyit and Ma, Qing and Lu, Yin and Xie, De-Yu}, year={2023}, month={May} } @article{zhu_yuzuak_sun_xie_2023, title={Identification and biosynthesis of plant papanridins, a group of novel oligomeric flavonoids}, volume={16}, ISSN={["1752-9867"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.molp.2023.09.015}, abstractNote={The discovery of novel flavonoids and elucidation of their biosynthesis are fundamental to understanding their roles in plants and their benefits for human and animal health. Here, we report a new pathway for polymerization of a group of novel oligomeric flavonoids in plants. We engineered red cells for discovering genes of interest involved in the flavonoid pathway and identified a gene encoding a novel flavanol polymerase (FP) localized in the central vacuole. FP catalyzes the polymerization of flavanols, such as epicatechin and catechin, to produce yellowish dimers or oligomers. Structural elucidation shows that these compounds feature a novel oligomeric flaven–flavan (FF) skeleton linked by interflavan–flaven and interflaven bonds, distinguishing them from proanthocyanidins and dehydrodicatechins. Detailed chemical and physical characterizations further confirmed the novel FFs as flavonoids. Mechanistic investigations demonstrated that FP polymerizes flavan-3-ols and flav-2-en-3-ol carbocation, forming dimeric or oligomeric flaven-4→8-flavans, which we term “papanridins.” Data from transgenic experiments, mutant analysis, metabolic profiling, and phylogenetic analyses show that the biosynthesis of papanridins is prevalent in cacao, grape, blueberry, corn, rice, Arabidopsis, and other species in the plant kingdom. In summary, our study discoveries a group of novel oligomeric flavonoids, namely papanridins, and reveals that a novel FP-mediated polymerization mechanism for the biosynthesis of papanridins in plants.}, number={11}, journal={MOLECULAR PLANT}, author={Zhu, Yue and Yuzuak, Seyit and Sun, Xiaoyan and Xie, De-Yu}, year={2023}, month={Nov}, pages={1773–1793} } @article{judd_dong_sun_zhu_li_xie_2023, title={Metabolic engineering of the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway in Artemisia annua and relation to the expression of the artemisinin biosynthetic pathway}, volume={257}, ISSN={["1432-2048"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-023-04091-6}, DOI={10.1007/s00425-023-04091-6}, abstractNote={Four types of cells were engineered from Artemisia annua to produce approximately 17 anthocyanins, four of which were elucidated structurally. All of them expressed the artemisinin pathway. Artemisia annua is the only medicinal crop to produce artemisinin for the treatment of malignant malaria. Unfortunately, hundreds of thousands of people still lose their life every year due to the lack of sufficient artemisinin. Artemisinin is considered to result from the spontaneous autoxidation of dihydroartemisinic acid in the presence of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in an oxidative condition of glandular trichomes (GTs); however, whether increasing antioxidative compounds can inhibit artemisinin biosynthesis in plant cells is unknown. Anthocyanins are potent antioxidants that can remove ROS in plant cells. To date, no anthocyanins have been structurally elucidated from A. annua. In this study, we had two goals: (1) to engineer anthocyanins in A. annua cells and (2) to understand the artemisinin biosynthesis in anthocyanin-producing cells. Arabidopsis Production of Anthocyanin Pigment 1 was used to engineer four types of transgenic anthocyanin-producing A. annua (TAPA1-4) cells. Three wild-type cell types were developed as controls. TAPA1 cells produced the highest contents of total anthocyanins. LC-MS analysis detected 17 anthocyanin or anthocyanidin compounds. Crystallization, LC/MS/MS, and NMR analyses identified cyanidin, pelargonidin, one cyanin, and one pelargonin. An integrative analysis characterized that four types of TAPA cells expressed the artemisinin pathway and TAPA1 cells produced the highest artemisinin and artemisinic acid. The contents of arteannuin B were similar in seven cell types. These data showed that the engineering of anthocyanins does not eliminate the biosynthesis of artemisinin in cells. These data allow us to propose a new hypothesis that enzymes catalyze the formation of artemisinin from dihydroartemisinic acid in non-GT cells. These findings show a new platform to increase artemisinin production via non-GT cells of A. annua.}, number={3}, journal={PLANTA}, author={Judd, Rika and Dong, Yilun and Sun, Xiaoyan and Zhu, Yue and Li, Mingzhuo and Xie, De-Yu}, year={2023}, month={Mar} } @article{dong_li_cruz_ye_zhu_li_xu_xie_2023, title={Molecular understanding of anthocyanin biosynthesis activated by PAP1 and regulated by 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in engineered red Artemisia annua cells}, volume={258}, ISSN={["1432-2048"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-023-04230-z}, DOI={10.1007/s00425-023-04230-z}, number={4}, journal={PLANTA}, author={Dong, Yilun and Li, Mingzhuo and Cruz, Bryanna and Ye, Emily and Zhu, Yue and Li, Lihua and Xu, Zhengjun and Xie, De-Yu}, year={2023}, month={Oct} } @article{dong_li_cruz_ye_zhu_li_xu_xie_2023, title={Molecular understanding of anthocyanin biosynthesis activated by PAP1 in engineered redArtemisia annuacells and regulation of 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid}, url={https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.03.17.533196}, DOI={10.1101/2023.03.17.533196}, abstractNote={Abstract}, author={Dong, Yilun and Li, Mingzhuo and Cruz, Bryanna and Ye, Emily and Zhu, Yue and Li, Lihua and Xu, Zhengjun and Xie, De-Yu}, year={2023}, month={Mar} } @article{tan_he_xie_2023, title={Unrelated to phenylalanine: Feeding studies provide new insight into salicylic acid biosynthesis}, volume={65}, ISSN={["1744-7909"]}, DOI={10.1111/jipb.13479}, abstractNote={How plants produce the important defense hormone salicylic acid (SA) has been studied for almost 50 years. The current understanding is that in land plants, SA is biosynthesized from chorismate through the isochorismate (IC) pathway and the phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) pathway (Dempsey et al, 2011). In Arabidopsis thaliana, about 90% of SA biosynthesis induced by pathogens or ultraviolet light is produced through the IC pathway and the remaining 10% is thought to be produced through the PAL pathway. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.}, number={4}, journal={JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY}, author={Tan, Jingjing and He, Ping and Xie, De-Yu}, year={2023}, month={Apr}, pages={879–880} } @article{zhu_scholle_kisthardt_xie_2022, title={
Flavonols and dihydroflavonols inhibit the main protease activity of SARS-CoV-2 and the replication of human coronavirus 229E
}, volume={571}, ISSN={["1089-862X"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.virol.2022.04.005}, abstractNote={Since December 2019, the deadly novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused the current COVID-19 pandemic. To date, vaccines are available in the developed countries to prevent the infection of this virus; however, medicines are necessary to help control COVID-19. Human coronavirus 229E (HCoV-229E) causes the common cold. The main protease (Mpro) is an essential enzyme required for the multiplication of these two viruses in the host cells, and thus is an appropriate candidate to screen potential medicinal compounds. Flavonols and dihydroflavonols are two groups of plant flavonoids. In this study, we report docking simulation with two Mpro enzymes and five flavonols and three dihydroflavonols, in vitro inhibition of the SARS-CoV-2 Mpro, and in vitro inhibition of the HCoV 229E replication. The docking simulation results predicted that (+)-dihydrokaempferol, (+)- dihydroquercetin, (+)-dihydromyricetin, kaempferol, quercetin, myricentin, isoquercitrin, and rutin could bind to at least two subsites (S1, S1', S2, and S4) in the binding pocket and inhibit the activity of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro. Their affinity scores ranged from -8.8 to -7.4 (kcal/mol). Likewise, these compounds were predicted to bind and inhibit the HCoV-229E Mpro activity with affinity scores ranging from -7.1 to -7.8 (kcal/mol). In vitro inhibition assays showed that seven available compounds effectively inhibited the SARS-CoV-2 Mpro activity and their IC50 values ranged from 0.125 to 12.9 μM. Five compounds inhibited the replication of HCoV-229E in Huh-7 cells. These findings indicate that these antioxidative flavonols and dihydroflavonols are promising candidates for curbing the two viruses.}, journal={VIROLOGY}, author={Zhu, Yue and Scholle, Frank and Kisthardt, Samantha C. and Xie, De-Yu}, year={2022}, month={Jun}, pages={21–33} } @article{li_he_la hovary_zhu_dong_liu_xing_liu_jie_ma_et al._2022, title={A de novo regulation design shows an effectiveness in altering plant secondary metabolism}, volume={37}, ISSN={["2090-1224"]}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jare.2021.06.017}, DOI={10.1016/j.jare.2021.06.017}, abstractNote={Transcription factors (TFs) and cis-regulatory elements (CREs) control gene transcripts involved in various biological processes. We hypothesize that TFs and CREs can be effective molecular tools for De Novo regulation designs to engineer plants. We selected two Arabidopsis TF types and two tobacco CRE types to design a De Novo regulation and evaluated its effectiveness in plant engineering. G-box and MYB recognition elements (MREs) were identified in four Nicotiana tabacum JAZs (NtJAZs) promoters. MRE-like and G-box like elements were identified in one nicotine pathway gene promoter. TF screening led to select Arabidopsis Production of Anthocyanin Pigment 1 (PAP1/MYB) and Transparent Testa 8 (TT8/bHLH). Two NtJAZ and two nicotine pathway gene promoters were cloned from commercial Narrow Leaf Madole (NL) and KY171 (KY) tobacco cultivars. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), cross-linked chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), and dual-luciferase assays were performed to test the promoter binding and activation by PAP1 (P), TT8 (T), PAP1/TT8 together, and the PAP1/TT8/Transparent Testa Glabra 1 (TTG1) complex. A DNA cassette was designed and then synthesized for stacking and expressing PAP1 and TT8 together. Three years of field trials were performed by following industrial and GMO protocols. Gene expression and metabolic profiling were completed to characterize plant secondary metabolism. PAP1, TT8, PAP1/TT8, and the PAP1/TT8/TTG1 complex bound to and activated NtJAZ promoters but did not bind to nicotine pathway gene promoters. The engineered red P + T plants significantly upregulated four NtJAZs but downregulated the tobacco alkaloid biosynthesis. Field trials showed significant reduction of five tobacco alkaloids and four carcinogenic tobacco specific nitrosamines in most or all cured leaves of engineered P + T and PAP1 genotypes. G-boxes, MREs, and two TF types are appropriate molecular tools for a De Novo regulation design to create a novel distant-pathway cross regulation for altering plant secondary metabolism.}, journal={JOURNAL OF ADVANCED RESEARCH}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Li, Mingzhuo and He, Xianzhi and La Hovary, Christophe and Zhu, Yue and Dong, Yilun and Liu, Shibiao and Xing, Hucheng and Liu, Yajun and Jie, Yucheng and Ma, Dongming and et al.}, year={2022}, month={Mar}, pages={43–60} } @article{zhu_yan_liu_xia_an_xu_zhao_liu_guo_zhang_et al._2022, title={Alternative splicing of CsJAZ1 negatively regulates flavan-3-ol biosynthesis in tea plants}, volume={1}, ISSN={["1365-313X"]}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/tpj.15670}, DOI={10.1111/tpj.15670}, abstractNote={SUMMARY}, journal={PLANT JOURNAL}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Zhu, Junyan and Yan, Xiaomei and Liu, Shengrui and Xia, Xiaobo and An, Yanlin and Xu, Qingshan and Zhao, Shiqi and Liu, Lu and Guo, Rui and Zhang, Zhaoliang and et al.}, year={2022}, month={Mar} } @article{yuzuak_xie_2022, title={Anthocyanins from muscadine (Vitis rotundifolia) grape fruit}, volume={30}, ISSN={["2214-6628"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.cpb.2022.100243}, abstractNote={Muscadine grapes (Vitis rotundifolia) have multiple health benefits to human health. The high nutritional values of muscadine berries result from antioxidative anthocyanins and other phenolic compounds. Since the middle of the 18th century, muscadine grapes have been cropped in the southeastern United States. Early cultivars were selected from wild vines. To date, the breeding efforts have created more than 100 cultivars featured by different fruit pigmentations for wine, juice, or fresh market industries. Herein, we review features of anthocyanin profiles in muscadine berries and different final products. Main anthocyanidins include cyanidin, delphinidin, petunidin, peonidin, and malvidin. Pelargonidin has been also reported in certain types of varieties. Main anthocyanins are comprised of cyanin and delphinin, which derive from non-acylated 3,5-O-diglucosides of the main five anthocyanidins. In addition, minor pelargonin such as pelargonidin 3, 5-diglucoside and other minor anthocyanins have been identified in some cultivars. Moreover, we discussed biosynthesis of anthocyanins, color instability and intensity of anthocyanins, and effects of copigments such as proanthocyanidins on color stability and intensity of muscadine products.}, journal={CURRENT PLANT BIOLOGY}, author={Yuzuak, Seyit and Xie, De-Yu}, year={2022}, month={Apr} } @article{yao_liu_zhuang_zhao_dai_jiang_wang_jiang_zhang_qian_et al._2022, title={Insights into acylation mechanisms: co-expression of serine carboxypeptidase-like acyltransferases and their non-catalytic companion paralogs}, volume={5}, ISSN={["1365-313X"]}, DOI={10.1111/tpj.15782}, abstractNote={SUMMARY}, journal={PLANT JOURNAL}, author={Yao, Shengbo and Liu, Yajun and Zhuang, Juhua and Zhao, Yue and Dai, Xinlong and Jiang, Changjuan and Wang, Zhihui and Jiang, Xiaolan and Zhang, Shuxiang and Qian, Yumei and et al.}, year={2022}, month={May} } @article{li_guo_wang_li_jiang_liu_xie_gao_xia_2022, title={Molecular and biochemical characterization of two 4-coumarate: CoA ligase genes in tea plant (Camellia sinensis)}, volume={109}, ISSN={["1573-5028"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1007/s11103-022-01269-6}, DOI={10.1007/s11103-022-01269-6}, abstractNote={Two 4-coumarate: CoA ligase genes in tea plant involved in phenylpropanoids biosynthesis and response to environmental stresses. Tea plant is rich in flavonoids benefiting human health. Lignin is essential for tea plant growth. Both flavonoids and lignin defend plants from stresses. The biosynthesis of lignin and flavonoids shares a key intermediate, 4-coumaroyl-CoA, which is formed from 4-coumaric acid catalyzed by 4-coumaric acid: CoA ligase (4CL). Herein, we report two 4CL paralogs from tea plant, Cs4CL1 and Cs4CL2, which are a member of class I and II of this gene family, respectively. Cs4CL1 was mainly expressed in roots and stems, while Cs4CL2 was mainly expressed in leaves. The promoter of Cs4CL1 had AC, nine types of light sensitive (LSE), four types of stress-inducible (SIE), and two types of meristem-specific elements (MSE). The promoter of Cs4CL2 also had AC and nine types of LSEs, but only had two types of SIEs and did not have MSEs. In addition, the LSEs varied in the two promoters. Based on the different features of regulatory elements, three stress treatments were tested to understand their expression responses to different conditions. The resulting data indicated that the expression of Cs4CL1 was sensitive to mechanical wounding, while the expression of Cs4CL2 was UV-B-inducible. Enzymatic assays showed that both recombinant Cs4CL1 and Cs4CL2 transformed 4-coumaric acid (CM), ferulic acid (FR), and caffeic acid (CF) to their corresponding CoA ethers. Kinetic analysis indicated that the recombinant Cs4CL1 preferred to catalyze CF, while the recombinant Cs4CL2 favored to catalyze CM. The overexpression of both Cs4CL1 and Cs4CL2 increased the levels of chlorogenic acid and total lignin in transgenic tobacco seedlings. In addition, the overexpression of Cs4CL2 consistently increased the levels of three flavonoid compounds. These findings indicate the differences of Cs4CL1 and Cs4CL2 in the phenylpropanoid metabolism.}, number={4-5}, journal={PLANT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY}, publisher={Springer Science and Business Media LLC}, author={Li, Mingzhuo and Guo, Lili and Wang, Yeru and Li, Yanzhi and Jiang, Xiaolan and Liu, Yajun and Xie, De-Yu and Gao, Liping and Xia, Tao}, year={2022}, month={May} } @article{jie_ma_xie_jie_2022, title={Transcriptional and Metabolic Characterization of Feeding Ramie Growth Enhanced by a Combined Application of Gibberellin and Ethrel}, volume={23}, ISSN={["1422-0067"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms231912025}, DOI={10.3390/ijms231912025}, abstractNote={Feeding ramie cultivars (Boehmaria nivea L.) are an important feedstock for livestock. Increasing their biomass and improving their nutritional values are essential for animal feeding. Gibberellin (GA3) and ethylene (ETH) are two plant hormones that regulate the growth, development, and metabolism of plants. Herein, we report effects of the GA3 and ETH application on the growth and plant metabolism of feeding ramie in the field. A combination of GA3 and ETH was designed to spray new plants. The two hormones enhanced the growth of plants to produce more biomass. Meanwhile, the two hormones reduced the contents of lignin in leaves and stems, while increased the content of flavonoids in leaves. To understand the potential mechanisms behind these results, we used RNA-seq-based transcriptomics and UPLC-MS/MS-based metabolomics to characterize gene expression and metabolite profiles associated with the treatment of GA3 and ETH. 1562 and 2364 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained from leaves and stems (treated versus control), respectively. Meanwhile, 99 and 88 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) were annotated from treated versus control leaves and treated versus control stems, respectively. Data mining revealed that both DEGs and DAMs were associated with multiple plant metabolisms, especially plant secondary metabolism. A specific focus on the plant phenylpropanoid pathway identified candidates of DEGs and DEMs that were associated with lignin and flavonoid biosynthesis. Shikimate hydroxycinnamoyl transferase (HCT) is a key enzyme that is involved in the lignin biosynthesis. The gene encoding B. nivea HCT was downregulated in the treated leaves and stems. In addition, genes encoding 4-coumaryl CoA ligase (4CL) and trans-cinnamate 4-monooxygenase (CYP73A), two lignin pathway enzymes, were downregulated in the treated stems. Meanwhile, the reduction in lignin in the treated leaves led to an increase in cinnamic acid and p-coumaryl CoA, two shared substrates of flavonoids that are enhanced in contents. Taken together, these findings indicated that an appropriate combination of GA3 and ETH is an effective strategy to enhance plant growth via altering gene expression and plant secondary metabolism for biomass-enhanced and value-improved feeding ramie.}, number={19}, journal={INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES}, author={Jie, Hongdong and Ma, Yushen and Xie, De-Yu and Jie, Yucheng}, year={2022}, month={Oct} } @article{zhu_scholle_kisthardt_xie_2021, title={Flavonols and dihydroflavonols inhibit the main protease activity of SARS-CoV-2 and the replication of human coronavirus 229E}, volume={7}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/2021.07.01.450756}, DOI={10.1101/2021.07.01.450756}, abstractNote={Abstract}, journal={[]}, publisher={Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory}, author={Zhu, Yue and Scholle, Frank and Kisthardt, Samantha C. and Xie, De-Yu}, year={2021}, month={Jul} } @article{li_guo_wang_li_jiang_liu_xie_gao_xia_2021, title={Molecular and Biochemical Characterization of Two 4-Coumarate: Coa Ligase Genes in Tea Plant (Camellia Sinensis)}, url={https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-897959/v1}, DOI={10.21203/rs.3.rs-897959/v1}, abstractNote={Abstract}, author={Li, Mingzhuo and Guo, Lili and Wang, Yeru and Li, Yanzhi and Jiang, Xiaolan and Liu, Yajun and Xie, Deyu and Gao, Liping and Xia, Tao}, year={2021}, month={Sep} } @article{xie_li_jie_xie_yang_shi_zhong_2020, title={Comparative transcriptomics of stem bark reveals genes associated with bast fiber development in Boehmeria nivea L. gaud (ramie)}, volume={21}, ISSN={["1471-2164"]}, DOI={10.1186/s12864-020-6457-8}, abstractNote={Abstract}, number={1}, journal={BMC GENOMICS}, author={Xie, Jiyong and Li, Jiaqi and Jie, Yucheng and Xie, Deyu and Yang, Di and Shi, Huazhong and Zhong, Yingli}, year={2020}, month={Jan} } @article{dai_liu_zhuang_yao_liu_jiang_zhou_wang_xie_bennetzen_et al._2020, title={Discovery and characterization of tannase genes in plants: roles in hydrolysis of tannins}, volume={226}, ISSN={["1469-8137"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.16425}, DOI={10.1111/nph.16425}, abstractNote={Summary}, number={4}, journal={NEW PHYTOLOGIST}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Dai, Xinlong and Liu, Yajun and Zhuang, Juhua and Yao, Shengbo and Liu, Li and Jiang, Xiaolan and Zhou, Kang and Wang, Yunsheng and Xie, Deyu and Bennetzen, Jeffrey L. and et al.}, year={2020}, month={May}, pages={1104–1116} } @article{zhu_xie_2020, title={Docking Characterization and in vitro Inhibitory Activity of Flavan-3-ols and Dimeric Proanthocyanidins Against the Main Protease Activity of SARS-Cov-2}, volume={11}, ISSN={1664-462X}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.601316}, DOI={10.3389/fpls.2020.601316}, abstractNote={We report to use the main protease (Mpro) of SARS-Cov-2 to screen plant flavan-3-ols and proanthocyanidins. Twelve compounds, (–)-afzelechin (AF), (–)-epiafzelechin (EAF), (+)-catechin (CA), (–)-epicatechin (EC), (+)-gallocatechin (GC), (–)-epigallocatechin (EGC), (+)-catechin-3-O-gallate (CAG), (–)-epicatechin-3-O-gallate (ECG), (–)-gallocatechin-3-O-gallate (GCG), (–)-epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG), procyanidin A2 (PA2), and procyanidin B2 (PB2), were selected for docking simulation. The resulting data predicted that all 12 metabolites could bind to Mpro. The affinity scores of PA2 and PB2 were predicted to be −9.2, followed by ECG, GCG, EGCG, and CAG, −8.3 to −8.7, and then six flavan-3-ol aglycones, −7.0 to −7.7. Docking characterization predicted that these compounds bound to three or four subsites (S1, S1′, S2, and S4) in the binding pocket of Mpro via different spatial ways and various formation of one to four hydrogen bonds. In vitro analysis with 10 available compounds showed that CAG, ECG, GCG, EGCG, and PB2 inhibited the Mpro activity with an IC50 value, 2.98 ± 0.21, 5.21 ± 0.5, 6.38 ± 0.5, 7.51 ± 0.21, and 75.3 ± 1.29 μM, respectively, while CA, EC, EGC, GC, and PA2 did not have inhibitory activities. To further substantiate the inhibitory activities, extracts prepared from green tea (GT), two muscadine grapes (MG), cacao, and dark chocolate (DC), which are rich in CAG, ECG, GAG, EGCG, or/and PB2, were used for inhibitory assay. The resulting data showed that GT, two MG, cacao, and DC extracts inhibited the Mpro activity with an IC50 value, 2.84 ± 0.25, 29.54 ± 0.41, 29.93 ± 0.83, 153.3 ± 47.3, and 256.39 ± 66.3 μg/ml, respectively. These findings indicate that on the one hand, the structural features of flavan-3-ols are closely associated with the affinity scores; on the other hand, the galloylation and oligomeric types of flavan-3-ols are critical in creating the inhibitory activity against the Mpro activity.}, journal={Frontiers in Plant Science}, publisher={Frontiers Media SA}, author={Zhu, Yue and Xie, De-Yu}, year={2020}, month={Nov} } @article{wang_liu_zhang_wang_hou_zhao_jiang_yu_tan_wang_et al._2020, title={Functional demonstration of plant flavonoid carbocations proposed to be involved in the biosynthesis of proanthocyanidins}, volume={101}, ISSN={["1365-313X"]}, DOI={10.1111/tpj.14515}, abstractNote={Summary}, number={1}, journal={PLANT JOURNAL}, author={Wang, Peiqiang and Liu, Yajun and Zhang, Lingjie and Wang, Wenzhao and Hou, Hua and Zhao, Yue and Jiang, Xiaolan and Yu, Jie and Tan, Huarong and Wang, Yunsheng and et al.}, year={2020}, month={Jan}, pages={18–36} } @article{peng_long_du_li_xie_2020, title={RNA-seq of aboveground sporophyte's transcriptome of Huperzia serrata and transcriptional understanding of early steps associated with huperzine biosynthesis in forest}, volume={24}, ISSN={["2214-6628"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.cpb.2020.100159}, abstractNote={Chinese toothed clubmoss (Huperzia serrata) is a primitive fern native in certain types of forests. It is severely endangered in China due to its difficult propagation and massive hunting for huperzine A to improve and prevent Alzheimer’s disease. In this study, we completed RNA-seq for young leaves (HSYL), old leaves (HSOL), and stems (HSS) of H. serrata (HS) plants collected from a forest in 2016. From these tissues, we generated 77,430,786 trimmed paired reads (paired 32,418,231,517 pb). Sequence assembly obtained 621,023 contigs and 755,420 transcripts, which were annotated to be 49,923 unigenes. Of all unigenes, 40,612 were expressed in the three tissues, while 9311 were differentially expressed. 1158, 1675, and 1326 unigenes are specifically expressed in HSYL, HSOL, and HSS, respectively. Sequence mining obtained two unigenes encoding lysine decarboxylase (LDC1 and 2) and three unigenes encoding copper amine oxidase (CAO1, 2, and 3), which were involved in two early steps of the huperzine pathway. Quantitative RT-PCR was carried out to validate these early pathway genes using samples collected in 2017. RPKM values and qRT-PCR analysis characterized that the transcriptional level of LDC1 was the highest in old leaves followed by young leaves and stems, while the transcriptional level of LDC2 was similar in three tissues. Of three CAO genes, qRT-PCR validated the expression of CAO1 and CAO2 but not CAO3. Metabolite analysis showed the formation and differentiation of huperzine A in the three tissues collected in 2019, demonstrating the expression of the biosynthetic pathway of huperzine. Furthermore, the gene expression and huperzine A formation are discussed to understand the biosynthesis of huperzine in the forest. Taken together, this study provides a valuable genome-wide transcriptome of the aboveground sporophyte tissues and shows a dynamically transcriptional and metabolic feature of the huperzine biosynthesis in the forest.}, journal={CURRENT PLANT BIOLOGY}, author={Peng, Qing-Zhong and Long, Hua and Du, Ci and Li, Jing and Xie, De-Yu}, year={2020}, month={Dec} } @article{noar_thomas_xie_carter_ma_daub_2019, title={A polyketide synthase gene cluster associated with the sexual reproductive cycle of the banana pathogen, Pseudocercospora fijiensis}, volume={14}, ISSN={1932-6203}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0220319}, DOI={10.1371/journal.pone.0220319}, abstractNote={Disease spread of Pseudocercospora fijiensis, causal agent of the black Sigatoka disease of banana, depends on ascospores produced through the sexual reproductive cycle. We used phylogenetic analysis to identify P. fijiensis homologs (PKS8-4 and Hybrid8-3) to the PKS4 polyketide synthases (PKS) from Neurospora crassa and Sordaria macrospora involved in sexual reproduction. These sequences also formed a clade with lovastatin, compactin, and betaenone-producing PKS sequences. Transcriptome analysis showed that both the P. fijiensis Hybrid8-3 and PKS8-4 genes have higher expression in infected leaf tissue compared to in culture. Domain analysis showed that PKS8-4 is more similar than Hybrid8-3 to PKS4. pPKS8-4:GFP transcriptional fusion transformants showed expression of GFP in flask-shaped structures in mycelial cultures as well as in crosses between compatible and incompatible mating types. Confocal microscopy confirmed expression in spermagonia in leaf substomatal cavities, consistent with a role in sexual reproduction. A disruption mutant of pks8-4 retained normal pathogenicity on banana, and no differences were observed in growth, conidial production, and spermagonia production. GC-MS profiling of the mutant and wild type did not identify differences in polyketide metabolites, but did identify changes in saturated fatty acid methyl esters and alkene and alkane derivatives. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a polyketide synthase pathway associated with spermagonia.}, number={7}, journal={PLOS ONE}, publisher={Public Library of Science (PLoS)}, author={Noar, Roslyn D. and Thomas, Elizabeth and Xie, De-Yu and Carter, Morgan E. and Ma, Dongming and Daub, Margaret E.}, editor={Lespinet, OlivierEditor}, year={2019}, month={Jul}, pages={e0220319} } @article{judd_bagley_li_zhu_lei_yuzuak_ekelöf_pu_zhao_muddiman_et al._2019, title={Artemisinin Biosynthesis in Non-glandular Trichome Cells of Artemisia annua}, volume={12}, ISSN={1674-2052}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/J.MOLP.2019.02.011}, DOI={10.1016/J.MOLP.2019.02.011}, abstractNote={Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) forms the first line of malaria treatment. However, the yield fluctuation of artemisinin has remained an unsolved problem in meeting the global demand for ACT. This problem is mainly caused by the glandular trichome (GT)-specific biosynthesis of artemisinin in all currently used Artemisia annua cultivars. Here, we report that non-GT cells of self-pollinated inbred A. annua plants can express the artemisinin biosynthetic pathway. Gene expression analysis demonstrated the transcription of six known pathway genes in GT-free leaves and calli of inbred A. annua plants. LC–qTOF–MS/MS analysis showed that these two types of GT-free materials produce artemisinin, artemisinic acid, and arteannuin B. Detailed IR-MALDESI image profiling revealed that these three metabolites and dihydroartemisinin are localized in non-GT cells of leaves of inbred A. annua plants. Moreover, we employed all the above approaches to examine artemisinin biosynthesis in the reported A. annua glandless (gl) mutant. The resulting data demonstrated that leaves of regenerated gl plantlets biosynthesize artemisinin. Collectively, these findings not only add new knowledge leading to a revision of the current dogma of artemisinin biosynthesis in A. annua but also may expedite innovation of novel metabolic engineering approaches for high and stable production of artemisinin in the future.}, number={5}, journal={Molecular Plant}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Judd, Rika and Bagley, M. Caleb and Li, Mingzhuo and Zhu, Yue and Lei, Caiyan and Yuzuak, Seyit and Ekelöf, Måns and Pu, Gaobin and Zhao, Xiting and Muddiman, David C. and et al.}, year={2019}, month={May}, pages={704–714} } @article{li_ji_xi_xie_su_2019, title={Creation of elite growth and development features in PAP1-programmed red Nicotiana tabacum Xanthi via overexpression of synthetic geranyl pyrophosphate synthase genes}, volume={39}, ISSN={1380-3743 1572-9788}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11032-019-0968-5}, DOI={10.1007/s11032-019-0968-5}, number={4}, journal={Molecular Breeding}, publisher={Springer Science and Business Media LLC}, author={Li, Gui and Ji, Xiaoming and Xi, Jing and Xie, De-Yu and Su, Xiaohua}, year={2019}, month={Apr} } @article{liu_zhang_xie_franks_xiang_2019, title={Functional characterization of Terminal Flower1 homolog in Cornus canadensis by genetic transformation}, volume={38}, ISSN={0721-7714 1432-203X}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00299-019-02369-2}, DOI={10.1007/s00299-019-02369-2}, abstractNote={TFL1homologCorcanTFL1suppresses the initiation of inflorescence development and regulates the inflorescence morphology inCornus canadensis. In flowering plants, there is a wide range of variation of inflorescence morphology. Despite the ecological and evolutionary importance, efforts devoted to the evolutionary study of the genetic basis of inflorescence morphology are far fewer compared to those on flower development. Our previous study on gene expression patterns suggested a CorTFL1-CorAP1 based model for the evolution of determinate umbels, heads, and mini dichasia from elongated inflorescences in Cornus. Here, we tested the function of CorcanTFL1 in regulating inflorescence development in Cornus canadensis through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. We showed that transgenic plants overexpressing CorcanTFL1 displayed delayed or suppressed inflorescence initiation and development and extended periods of vegetative growth. Transgenic plants within which CorcanTFL1 had been down-regulated displayed earlier emergence of inflorescence and a reduction of bract and inflorescence sizes, conversions of leaves to bracts and axillary leaf buds to small inflorescences at the uppermost node bearing the inflorescence, or phyllotaxy changes of inflorescence branches and leaves from decussate opposite to spirally alternate. These observations support an important role of CorcanTFL1 in determining flowering time and the morphological destinies of leaves and buds at the node bearing the inflorescence. The evidence is in agreement with the predicted function of CorTFL1 from the gene expression model, supporting a key role of CorTFL1 in the evolutionary divergence of inflorescence forms in Cornus.}, number={3}, journal={Plant Cell Reports}, publisher={Springer Science and Business Media LLC}, author={Liu, Xiang and Zhang, Jian and Xie, Deyu and Franks, Robert G. and Xiang, Qiu-Yun (Jenny)}, year={2019}, month={Jan}, pages={333–343} } @article{ma_gandra_manoharlal_la hovary_xie_2019, title={Untargeted Metabolomics of Nicotiana tabacum Grown in United States and India Characterizes the Association of Plant Metabolomes With Natural Climate and Geography}, volume={10}, ISSN={1664-462X}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2019.01370}, DOI={10.3389/fpls.2019.01370}, abstractNote={Climate change and geography affect all the living organisms. To date, the effects of climate and geographical factors on plant metabolome largely remain open for worldwide and local investigations. In this study, we designed field experiments with tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) in India versus USA and used untargeted metabolomics to understand the association of two weather factors and two different continental locations with respect to tobacco metabolism. Field research stations in Oxford, North Carolina, USA, and Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh India were selected to grow a commercial tobacco genotype (K326) for 2 years. Plant growth, field management, and leaf curing followed protocols standardized for tobacco cultivation. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry based unbiased profiling annotated 171 non-polar and 225 polar metabolites from cured tobacco leaves. Principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) showed that two growing years and two field locations played primary and secondary roles affecting metabolite profiles, respectively. PCA and Pearson analysis, which used nicotine, 11 other groups of metabolites, two locations, temperatures, and precipitation, revealed that in North Carolina, temperature changes were positively associated with the profiles of sesquiterpenes, diterpenes, and triterpenes, but negatively associated with the profiles of nicotine, organic acids of tricarboxylic acid, and sugars; in addition, precipitation was positively associated with the profiles of triterpenes. In India, temperature was positively associated with the profiles of benzenes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, but negatively associated with the profiles of amino acids and sugar. Further comparative analysis revealed that nicotine levels were affected by weather conditions, nevertheless, its trend in leaves was independent of two geographical locations and weather changes. All these findings suggested that climate and geographical variation significantly differentiated the tobacco metabolism.}, journal={Frontiers in Plant Science}, publisher={Frontiers Media SA}, author={Ma, Dong-Ming and Gandra, Saiprasad V. S. and Manoharlal, Raman and La Hovary, Christophe and Xie, De-Yu}, year={2019}, month={Oct} } @article{borghi_xie_2018, title={Cloning and characterization of a monoterpene synthase gene from flowers of Camelina sativa}, volume={247}, ISSN={["1432-2048"]}, DOI={10.1007/s00425-017-2801-x}, abstractNote={CsTPS1 encodes for a monoterpene synthase that contributes to the emission of a blend of volatile compounds emitted from flowers of Camelina sativa. The work describes the in vitro characterization of a monoterpene synthase and its regulatory region that we cloned from Camelina sativa (Camelina). Here, we named this gene as C. sativa terpene synthase 1 (CsTPS1). In vitro experiments performed with the CsTPS1 protein after expression and purification from Escherichia coli (E. coli) showed production of a blend of monoterpene volatile organic compounds, of which the emission was also detected in the floral bouquet of wild-type Camelina plants. Quantitative-PCR measurements revealed a high abundance of CsTPS1 transcripts in flowers and experiments performed with the GUS reporter showed high CsTPS1 expression in the pistil, in the cells of the wall of the ovary and in the stigma. Subcellular localization of the CsTPS1 protein was investigated with a GFP reporter construct that showed expression in plastids. The CsTPS1 gene identified in this study belongs to a mid-size family of 60 genes putatively codifying for TPS enzymes. This enlarged family of TPS genes suggests that Camelina has the structural framework for the production of terpenes and other secondary metabolites of relevance for the consumers.}, number={2}, journal={PLANTA}, author={Borghi, Monica and Xie, De-Yu}, year={2018}, month={Feb}, pages={443–457} } @article{borghi_xie_2018, title={Cloning and characterization of a monoterpene synthase gene from flowers of Camelina sativa (vol 247, pg 443, 2018)}, volume={247}, ISSN={["1432-2048"]}, DOI={10.1007/s00425-017-2810-9}, abstractNote={In the original publication, the order of figures and citations was incorrect. The corrections are listed below.}, number={1}, journal={PLANTA}, author={Borghi, Monica and Xie, De-Yu}, year={2018}, month={Jan}, pages={287–288} } @article{ekelöf_garrard_judd_rosen_xie_kashuba_muddiman_2018, title={Evaluation of Digital Image Recognition Methods for Mass Spectrometry Imaging Data Analysis}, volume={29}, ISSN={1044-0305 1879-1123}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/S13361-018-2073-0}, DOI={10.1007/S13361-018-2073-0}, abstractNote={Analyzing mass spectrometry imaging data can be laborious and time consuming, and as the size and complexity of datasets grow, so does the need for robust automated processing methods. We here present a method for comprehensive, semi-targeted discovery of molecular distributions of interest from mass spectrometry imaging data, using widely available image similarity scoring algorithms to rank images by spatial correlation. A fast and powerful batch search method using a MATLAB implementation of structural similarity (SSIM) index scoring with a pre-selected reference distribution is demonstrated for two sample imaging datasets, a plant metabolite study using Artemisia annua leaf, and a drug distribution study using maraviroc-dosed macaque tissue. Graphical Abstract ᅟ.}, number={12}, journal={Journal of The American Society for Mass Spectrometry}, publisher={Springer Science and Business Media LLC}, author={Ekelöf, Måns and Garrard, Kenneth P. and Judd, Rika and Rosen, Elias P. and Xie, De-Yu and Kashuba, Angela D. M. and Muddiman, David C.}, year={2018}, month={Oct}, pages={2467–2470} } @article{yuzuak_ballington_xie_2018, title={HPLC-qTOE-MS/MS-Based Profiling of Flavan-3-ols and Dimeric Proanthocyanidins in Berries of Two Muscadine Grape Hybrids FLH 13-11 and FLH 17-66}, volume={8}, ISSN={["2218-1989"]}, url={http://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/8/4/57}, DOI={10.3390/metabo8040057}, abstractNote={FLH 13-11 FL and FLH 17-66 FL are two interspecific hybrid varieties of muscadine grape resulting from the cross of Vitis munsoniana (Simpson) ex Munson and V. rotundifolia. However, profiles of flavan-3-ols and proanthocyanidins in these two hybrids have not been characterized. Herein, we report the use of high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole, time-of-flight, tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-qTOF-MS/MS) to characterize these two groups of metabolites in berries. Ripe berries collected from two consecutive cropping years were used to extract metabolites. Metabolites were ionized using the negative mode. Collision-induced dissociation was performed to fragmentize ions to obtain feature fragment profiles. Based on standards, MS features, and fragments resulted from MS/MS, four flavan-3-ol aglycones, 18 gallated or glycosylated conjugates, and eight dimeric procyanidins, were annotated from berry extracts. Of these 30 metabolites, six are new methylated flavan-3-ol gallates. Furthermore, comparative profiling analysis showed obvious effects of each cultivar on the composition these 30 metabolites, indicating that genotypes control biosynthesis. In addition, cropping seasons altered profiles of these metabolites, showing effects of growing years on metabolic composition. These data are informative to enhance the application of the two cultivars in grape and wine industries in the future.}, number={4}, journal={METABOLITES}, publisher={MDPI AG}, author={Yuzuak, Seyit and Ballington, James and Xie, De-Yu}, year={2018}, month={Dec} } @article{zhu_peng_li_xie_2018, title={Molecular Cloning and Functional Characterization of a Dihydroflavonol 4-Reductase from Vitis bellula}, volume={23}, ISSN={["1420-3049"]}, url={http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/23/4/861}, DOI={10.3390/molecules23040861}, abstractNote={Vitis bellula is a new grape crop in southern China. Berries of this species are rich in antioxidative anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins. This study reports cloning and functional characterization of a cDNA encoding a V. bellula dihydroflavonol reductase (VbDFR) involved in the biosynthesis of anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins. A cDNA including 1014 bp was cloned from young leaves and its open reading frame (ORF) was deduced encoding 337 amino acids, highly similar to V. vinifera DFR (VvDFR). Green florescence protein fusion and confocal microscopy analysis determined the cytosolic localization of VbDFR in plant cells. A soluble recombinant VbDFR was induced and purified from E. coli for enzyme assay. In the presence of NADPH, the recombinant enzyme catalyzed dihydrokaempferol (DHK) and dihydroquercetin (DHQ) to their corresponding leucoanthocyanidins. The VbDFR cDNA was introduced into tobacco plants via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The overexpression of VbDFR increased anthocyanin production in flowers. Anthocyanin hydrolysis and chromatographic analysis revealed that transgenic flowers produced pelargonidin and delphinidin, which were not detected in control flowers. These data demonstrated that the overexpression of VbDFR produced new tobacco anthocyanidins. In summary, all data demonstrate that VbDFR is a useful gene to provide three types of substrates for metabolic engineering of anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins in grape crops and other crops.}, number={4}, journal={MOLECULES}, publisher={MDPI AG}, author={Zhu, Yue and Peng, Qingzhong and Li, Kegang and Xie, De-Yu}, year={2018}, month={Apr} } @article{li_xi_ji_li_xie_2018, title={Non-plastidial expression of a synthetic insect geranyl pyrophosphate synthase effectively increases tobacco plant biomass}, volume={221}, ISSN={["1618-1328"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.jplph.2017.12.014}, abstractNote={Designing effective synthetic genes of interest is a fundamental step in plant synthetic biology for biomass. Geranyl pyrophosphate (diphosphate) synthase (GPPS) catalyzes a bottleneck step toward terpenoid metabolism. We previously designed and synthesized a plant (Arabidopsis thaliana)-insect (Myzus persicae, Mp) GPPS- human influenza hemagglutinin (HA) cDNA, namely PTP-MpGPPS-HA (or PTP-sMpGPPS-HA, s: synthetic), to localize the protein in plastids and improve plant biomass. To better understand the effects of different subcellular localizations on plant performance, herein we report PTP-sMpGPPS-HA re-design to synthesize a new MpGPPS-HA cDNA, namely sMpGPPS-HA, to express a non-plastidial sMpGPPS-HA protein. The sMpGPPS-HA cDNA driven by a 2 × S 35S promoter was introduced into Nicotiana tabacum Xanthi. PTP-MpGPPS-HA and PMDC84 vector transgenic plants were also generated as positive and negative controls, respectively. Eighteen to twenty transgenic T0 lines were generated for each sMpGPPS-HA, PTP-sMpGPPS-HA, and PMDC84. Transcriptional genotyping analysis demonstrated the expression of sMpGPPS-HA in transgenic plants. Confocal microscopy analysis of transgenic progeny demonstrated the non-plastidial localization of sMpGPPS-HA. Growth of T1 transgenic and wild-type control plants showed that the expression of sMpGPPS-HA effectively increased plant height by 50–80%, leaf numbers and sizes, and dry biomass by 60–80%. Calculation of the vegetative growth rates showed that the expression of sMpGPPS-HA increased plant height each week. Moreover, sMpGPPS-HA expression promoted early flowering and reduced leaf carotenoid levels. In conclusion, non-plastidial expression of the novel sMpGPPS-HA was effective for improving tobacco growth and biomass. Our data indicate that research examining different subcellular localizations facilitates a better understanding of in planta functions of proteins encoded by synthetic cDNAs.}, journal={JOURNAL OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY}, author={Li, Gui and Xi, Jing and Ji, Xiaoming and Li, Ming-Zhuo and Xie, De-Yu}, year={2018}, month={Feb}, pages={144–155} } @article{ma_xu_alejos-gonzalez_wang_yang_judd_xie_2018, title={Overexpression of Artemisia annua Cinnamyl Alcohol Dehydrogenase Increases Lignin and Coumarin and Reduces Artemisinin and Other Sesquiterpenes}, volume={9}, ISSN={["1664-462X"]}, DOI={10.3389/fpls.2018.00828}, abstractNote={Artemisia annua is the only medicinal crop that produces artemisinin for malarial treatment. Herein, we describe the cloning of a cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (AaCAD) from an inbred self-pollinating (SP) A. annua cultivar and its effects on lignin and artemisinin production. A recombinant AaCAD was purified via heterogeneous expression. Enzyme assays showed that the recombinant AaCAD converted p-coumaryl, coniferyl, and sinapyl aldehydes to their corresponding alcohols, which are key intermediates involved in the biosynthesis of lignin. Km, Vmax, and Vmax/Km values were calculated for all three substrates. To characterize its function in planta, AaCAD was overexpressed in SP plants. Quantification using acetyl bromide (AcBr) showed significantly higher lignin contents in transgenics compared with wild-type (WT) plants. Moreover, GC-MS-based profiling revealed a significant increase in coumarin contents in transgenic plants. By contrast, HPLC-MS analysis showed significantly reduced artemisinin contents in transgenics compared with WT plants. Furthermore, GC-MS analysis revealed a decrease in the contents of arteannuin B and six other sesquiterpenes in transgenic plants. Confocal microscopy analysis showed the cytosolic localization of AaCAD. These data demonstrate that AaCAD plays a dual pathway function in the cytosol, in which it positively enhances lignin formation but negatively controls artemisinin formation. Based on these data, crosstalk between these two pathways mediated by AaCAD catalysis is discussed to understand the metabolic control of artemisinin biosynthesis in plants for high production.}, journal={FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE}, author={Ma, Dongming and Xu, Chong and Alejos-Gonzalez, Fatima and Wang, Hong and Yang, Jinfen and Judd, Rika and Xie, De-Yu}, year={2018}, month={Jun} } @article{li_ji_swantko_xie_2017, title={Compartmentalized Overexpression of a Synthetic Geranyl Pyrophosphate Synthase and Its Regulation on Plant Growth and Metabolism}, volume={53}, number={Suppl. 1}, journal={In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology - Animal}, author={Li, Gui and Ji, Xiaoming and Swantko, Sarah and Xie, De-Yu}, year={2017}, pages={54–55} } @article{li_li_guo_gong_pang_jiang_liu_jiang_zhao_wang_et al._2017, title={Functional Characterization of Tea (Camellia sinensis) MYB4a Transcription Factor Using an Integrative Approach}, volume={8}, ISSN={["1664-462X"]}, DOI={10.3389/fpls.2017.00943}, abstractNote={Green tea (Camellia sinensis, Cs) abundantly produces a diverse array of phenylpropanoid compounds benefiting human health. To date, the regulation of the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis in tea remains to be investigated. Here, we report a cDNA isolated from leaf tissues, which encodes a R2R3-MYB transcription factor. Amino acid sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis indicate that it is a member of the MYB4-subgroup and named as CsMYB4a. Transcriptional and metabolic analyses show that the expression profile of CsMYB4a is negatively correlated to the accumulation of six flavan-3-ols and other phenolic acids. GFP fusion analysis shows CsMYB4a’s localization in the nucleus. Promoters of five tea phenylpropanoid pathway genes are isolated and characterized to contain four types of AC-elements, which are targets of MYB4 members. Interaction of CsMYB4a and five promoters shows that CsMYB4a decreases all five promoters’ activity. To further characterize its function, CsMYB4a is overexpressed in tobacco plants. The resulting transgenic plants show dwarf, shrinking and yellowish leaf, and early senescence phenotypes. A further genome-wide transcriptomic analysis reveals that the expression levels of 20 tobacco genes involved in the shikimate and the phenylpropanoid pathways are significantly downregulated in transgenic tobacco plants. UPLC-MS and HPLC based metabolic profiling reveals significant reduction of total lignin content, rutin, chlorogenic acid, and phenylalanine in CsMYB4a transgenic tobacco plants. Promoter sequence analysis of the 20 tobacco genes characterizes four types of AC-elements. Further CsMYB4a-AC element and CsMYB4a-promoter interaction analyses indicate that the negative regulation of CsMYB4a on the shikimate and phenylpropanoid pathways in tobacco is via reducing promoter activity. Taken together, all data indicate that CsMYB4a negatively regulates the phenylpropanoid and shikimate pathways. Highlight: A tea (Camellia sinensis) MYB4a is characterized to encode a R2R3-MYB transcription factor. It is shown to repressively control the phenylpropanoid and shikimate pathway.}, journal={FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE}, author={Li, Mingzhuo and Li, Yanzhi and Guo, Lili and Gong, Niandi and Pang, Yongzheng and Jiang, Wenbo and Liu, Yajun and Jiang, Xiaolan and Zhao, Lei and Wang, Yunsheng and et al.}, year={2017}, month={Jun} } @article{zhao_jiang_qian_wang_xie_gao_xia_2017, title={Metabolic Characterization of the Anthocyanidin Reductase Pathway Involved in the Biosynthesis of Flavan-3-ols in Elite Shuchazao Tea (Camellia sinensis) Cultivar in the Field}, volume={22}, url={http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/22/12/2241}, DOI={10.3390/molecules22122241}, abstractNote={Anthocyanidin reductase (ANR) is a key enzyme in the ANR biosynthetic pathway of flavan-3-ols and proanthocyanidins (PAs) in plants. Herein, we report characterization of the ANR pathway of flavan-3-ols in Shuchazao tea (Camellia sinesis), which is an elite and widely grown cultivar in China and is rich in flavan-3-ols providing with high nutritional value to human health. In our study, metabolic profiling was preformed to identify two conjugates and four aglycones of flavan-3-ols: (−)-epigallocatechin-gallate [(−)-EGCG], (−)-epicatechin-gallate [(−)-ECG], (−)-epigallocatechin [(−)-EGC], (−)-epicatechin [(−)-EC], (+)-catechin [(+)-Ca], and (+)-gallocatechin [(+)-GC], of which (−)-EGCG, (−)-ECG, (−)-EGC, and (−)-EC accounted for 70–85% of total flavan-3-ols in different tissues. Crude ANR enzyme was extracted from young leaves. Enzymatic assays showed that crude ANR extracts catalyzed cyanidin and delphinidin to (−)-EC and (−)-Ca and (−)-EGC and (−)-GC, respectively, in which (−)-EC and (−)-EGC were major products. Moreover, two ANR cDNAs were cloned from leaves, namely CssANRa and CssANRb. His-Tag fused recombinant CssANRa and CssANRb converted cyanidin and delphinidin to (−)-EC and (−)-Ca and (−)-EGC and (−)-GC, respectively. In addition, (+)-EC was observed from the catalysis of recombinant CssANRa and CssANRb. Further overexpression of the two genes in tobacco led to the formation of PAs in flowers and the reduction of anthocyanins. Taken together, these data indicate that the majority of leaf flavan-3-ols in Shuchazao’s leaves were produced from the ANR pathway.}, number={12}, journal={Molecules}, publisher={MDPI AG}, author={Zhao, Lei and Jiang, Xiao-Lan and Qian, Yu-Mei and Wang, Pei-Qiang and Xie, De-Yu and Gao, Li-Ping and Xia, Tao}, year={2017}, month={Dec}, pages={2241} } @article{zhao_jiang_qian_wang_xie_gao_xia_2017, title={Metabolic characterization of the anthocyanidin reductase pathway involved in the biosynthesis of flavan-3-ols in Elite Shuchazao Tea (Camellia sinensis) cultivar in the field}, volume={22}, number={12}, journal={Molecules}, author={Zhao, L. and Jiang, X. L. and Qian, Y. M. and Wang, P. Q. and Xie, D. Y. and Gao, L. P. and Xia, T.}, year={2017} } @article{he_li_lawson_xie_2017, title={Metabolic engineering of anthocyanins in dark tobacco varieties}, volume={159}, ISSN={["1399-3054"]}, DOI={10.1111/ppl.12475}, abstractNote={In this study, we investigate the metabolic engineering of anthocyanins in two dark tobacco crops (Narrow Leaf Madole and KY171) and evaluate the effects on physiological features of plant photosynthesis. Arabidopsis PAP1 (production of anthocyanin pigment 1) gene (AtPAP1) encodes a R2R3‐type MYB transcript factor that is a master component of regulatory complexes controlling anthocyanin biosynthesis. AtPAP1 was introduced to Narrow Leaf Madole and KY171 plants. Multiple transgenic plants developed red/purple pigmentation in different tissues. Quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) analysis showed that the expression levels of six pathway genes were increased two‐ to eight‐fold in AtPAP1 transgenic plants compared with vector control plants. Dihydroflavonol reductase and anthocyanidin synthase genes that were not expressed in wild‐type plants were activated. Spectrophotometric measurement showed that the amount of anthocyanins in AtPAP1 transgenic plants were 400–800 µg g−1 fresh weight (FW). High‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis showed that one main anthocyanin molecule accounted for approximately 98% of the total anthocyanins. Tandem MS/MS analysis using HPLC coupled to electrospray ionization and quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry identified the main anthocyanin as cyanidin 3‐O‐rutinoside, an important medicinal anthocyanin. Analysis of photosynthesis rate, chlorophylls and carotenoids contents showed no differences between red/purple transgenic and control plants, indicating that this metabolic engineering did not alter photosynthetic physiological traits. This study shows that AtPAP1 is of significance for metabolic engineering of anthocyanins in crop plants for value‐added traits.}, number={1}, journal={PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM}, author={He, Xianzhi and Li, Yong and Lawson, Darlene and Xie, De-Yu}, year={2017}, month={Jan}, pages={2–12} } @article{ma_li_zhu_xie_2017, title={Overexpression and Suppression of Artemisia annua 4-Hydroxy-3-Methylbut-2-enyl Diphosphate Reductase 1 Gene (AaHDR1) Differentially Regulate Artemisinin and Terpenoid Biosynthesis}, volume={8}, ISSN={["1664-462X"]}, DOI={10.3389/fpls.2017.00077}, abstractNote={4-Hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl diphosphate reductase (HDR) catalyzes the last step of the 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 4- phosphate (MEP) pathway to synthesize isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP) and dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP). To date, little is known regarding effects of an increase or a decrease of a HDR expression on terpenoid and other metabolite profiles in plants. In our study, an Artemisia annua HDR cDNA (namely AaHDR1) was cloned from leaves. Expression profiling showed that it was highly expressed in leaves, roots, stems, and flowers with different levels. Green florescence protein fusion and confocal microscope analyses showed that AaHDR1 was localized in chloroplasts. The overexpression of AaHDR1 increased contents of artemisinin, arteannuin B and other sesquiterpenes, and multiple monoterpenes. By contrast, the suppression of AaHDR1 by anti-sense led to opposite results. In addition, an untargeted metabolic profiling showed that the overexpression and suppression altered non-polar metabolite profiles. In conclusion, the overexpression and suppression of AaHDR1 protein level in plastids differentially affect artemisinin and other terpenoid biosynthesis, and alter non-polar metabolite profiles of A. annua. Particularly, its overexpression leading to the increase of artemisinin production is informative to future metabolic engineering of this antimalarial medicine.}, journal={FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE}, author={Ma, Dongming and Li, Gui and Zhu, Yue and Xie, De-Yu}, year={2017}, month={Jan} } @article{rossi_borghi_yang_xie_2017, title={Overexpression of Populus×canescens isoprene synthase gene in Camelina sativa leads to alterations in its growth and metabolism}, volume={215}, ISSN={0176-1617}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/J.JPLPH.2017.06.005}, DOI={10.1016/J.JPLPH.2017.06.005}, abstractNote={Isoprene (2-methyl-1,3-butadiene) is a hemiterpene molecule. It has been estimated that the plant kingdom emits 500–750 million tons of isoprene in the environment, half of which results from tropical broadleaf trees and the remainder from shrubs. Camelina (Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz) is an emerging bioenergy plant for biodiesel. In this study, we characterized isoprene formation following a diurnal/nocturnal cycle in wild-type Camelina plants. To understand the potential effects of isoprene emission on this herbaceous plant, a gray poplar Populus × canescens isoprene synthase gene (PcISPS) was overexpressed in Camelina. Transgenic plants showed increased isoprene production, and the emissions were characterized by a diurnal/nocturnal cycle. Measurements of the expression of six genes of the plastidial 2-C-methyl-d-erythriol-4-phosphate (MEP) pathway revealed that the expression patterns of three key genes were associated with isoprene formation dynamics in the three genotypic plants. Conversely, dissimilar gene expression levels existed in different genotypes, indicating that dynamics and variations occurred among plants. Moreover, transgenic plants grew shorter and developed smaller leaves than the wild-type and empty vector control transgenic plants. Photosynthetic analysis showed that the CO2 assimilation rate, intracellular CO2 concentration, mesophyll conductance and contents of chlorophylls a and b were similar among PcISPS transgenic, empty-vector control transgenic, and wild-type plants, indicating that the transgene did not negatively affect photosynthesis. Based on these results, we suggest that the reduced biomass was likely a trade-off consequence of the increased isoprene emission.}, journal={Journal of Plant Physiology}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Rossi, Lorenzo and Borghi, Monica and Yang, Jinfen and Xie, De-Yu}, year={2017}, month={Aug}, pages={122–131} } @article{ma_li_alejos-gonzalez_zhu_xue_wang_zhang_li_ye_wang_et al._2017, title={Overexpression of a type-I isopentenyl pyrophosphate isomerase of Artemisia annua in the cytosol leads to high arteannuinB production and artemisinin increase}, volume={91}, DOI={10.1111/tpj.13583}, abstractNote={Summary}, number={3}, journal={Plant Journal}, author={Ma, D. M. and Li, G. and Alejos-Gonzalez, F. and Zhu, Y. and Xue, Z. and Wang, A. M. and Zhang, H. and Li, X. and Ye, H. C. and Wang, H. and et al.}, year={2017}, pages={466–479} } @article{zhu_xie_2017, title={Red and White PAP1-controlled Arabidopsis Cells Are Dependent Upon TT8}, volume={53}, number={Supplement 1}, journal={In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology - Animal}, author={Zhu, Yue and Xie, De-Yu}, year={2017}, pages={S51–S51} } @article{xie_2017, title={Regulation of Anthocyanin Biosynthesis in the WD40-bHLH-MYB Complex-Programmed Arabidopsis Cells}, volume={53}, number={Suppl 1}, journal={In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology - Animal}, author={Xie, De-Yu}, year={2017}, pages={13–13} } @article{liu_zhang_abuahmad_franks_xie_xiang_2016, title={Analysis of two TFL1 homologs of dogwood species (Cornus L.) indicates functional conservation in control of transition to flowering}, volume={243}, ISSN={0032-0935, 1432-2048}, url={http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s00425-016-2466-x}, DOI={10.1007/s00425-016-2466-x}, abstractNote={Two TFL1 -like genes, CorfloTFL1 and CorcanTFL1 cloned from Cornus florida and C. canadensis, function in regulating the transition to reproductive development in Arabidopsis. TERMINAL FLOWER 1 (TFL1) is known to regulate inflorescence development in Arabidopsis thaliana and to inhibit the transition from a vegetative to reproductive phase within the shoot apical meristem. Despite the importance, TFL1 homologs have been functionally characterized in only a handful eudicots. Here we report the role of TFL1 homologs of Cornus L. in asterid clade of eudicots. Two TFL1-like genes, CorfloTFL1 and CorcanTFL1, were cloned from Cornus florida (a tree) and C. canadensis (a subshrub), respectively. Both are deduced to encode proteins of 175 amino acids. The amino acid sequences of these two Cornus TFL1 homologs share a high similarity to Arabidopsis TFL1 and phylogenetically more close to TFL1 paralogous copy ATC (Arabidopsis thaliana CENTRORADIALIS homologue). Two genes are overexpressed in wild-type and tfl1 mutant plants of A. thaliana. The over-expression of each gene in wild-type Arabidopsis plants results in delaying flowering time, increase of plant height and cauline and rosette leaf numbers, excessive shoot buds, and secondary inflorescence branches. The over-expression of each gene in the tfl1 mutant rescued developmental defects, such as the early determinate inflorescence development, early flowering time, and other vegetative growth defects, to normal phenotypes of wild-type plants. These transgenic phenotypes are inherited in progenies. All data indicate that CorfloTFL1 and CorcanTFL1 have conserved the ancestral function of TFL1 and CEN regulating flowering time and inflorescence determinacy.}, number={5}, journal={Planta}, publisher={Springer Science and Business Media LLC}, author={Liu, Xiang and Zhang, Jian and Abuahmad, Ahmad and Franks, Robert G. and Xie, De-Yu and Xiang, Qiu-Yun}, year={2016}, month={May}, pages={1129–1141} } @article{xie_2016, title={Artemisia annua, artemisinin, and the Nobel Prize: beauty of natural products and educational significance}, volume={61}, ISSN={["2095-9281"]}, DOI={10.1007/s11434-015-0989-3}, abstractNote={In the beautiful evening on December 10, 2015 (local time in Sweden), the annual Nobel Prize ceremony was hosted by the Swedish Royal Family at Stockholm’s City Hall, Stockholm, Sweden. Congratulations to all ten new Nobel Prize Laureates and thanks them for using their brightest talents to make our world better! The 2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Professors Youyou Tu, William C. Campbell, and Satoshi Omura for their inventions in novel therapies using natural product medicines that help humankind fight against diseases caused by two types of severe endemic parasites, and save millions of people’s lives [1]. The Nobel Prize awarded to Professor Tu was to recognize and appreciate her pioneering discovery of artemisinin from Artemisia annua and clinical innovation in fighting against malaria, one of the top three diseases leading to the loss of people’s life [2]. Since the announcement of the award in October 2015, hundreds of praising reports have been published in scientific journals and the media to introduce and appreciate Professor Tu’s scientific achievements and medicinal contributions to global health [1–3]. Particularly, people in China from the top administers of the central Chinese government to elementary school students have been excited to applaud, discuss, and comment on her greatest research achievements that benefit human health. Here, as a university’s teacher in Medicinal Plants, Phytochemistry, and Plant Natural Products, I would like to specifically highlight the beauty and the educational significance of the Nobel Prize awarded to Professor Tu. To me, the 2015 Nobel Prize in Medicines is the most magnificent award. Not only is it awarded to Professor Tu for her invention of the novel therapy treating malaria, but also it is awarded to her collaborative teams for their research efforts in the development of artemisinin for malaria treatment. After the Nobel Prize committee announced her as one of the winners of the award, Professor Tu has always humbly expressed that the honor should also belong to her entire team and collaborators. In her interviews and speeches, she always respectfully appreciated her team members and collaborators for their supportive collaboration 40 years ago. The discovery of artemisinin was carried out during the Cultural Revolution period in China [4]. The Chinese government funded a secret project coded as ‘‘Project 523’’ to treat severely lethal malaria associated with the Vietnam War. The code number means the date ‘‘the 23rd of May, 1967,’’ when the project was officially launched. In addition, my personal opinion is that the other main reason was the extremely severe endemic malaria (Da Bai Zi, in Chinese Pin Yin) in south China during 1960s and 1970s. For example, I was one of the malarial patients infected by Plasmodium falciparum in 1977. I also remember that many people in my village were victims of malaria. In 1967, a group of Chinese scientists were funded to develop effective medicines from Traditional Chinese Medicines to fight against lethal malaria. At that time, young Tu was one of the junior scientists in the entire national team. Tu and her team endeavored to screen hundreds of different Chinese medicinal plants. In October of 1971, Tu led her team for the first time to demonstrate the medicinal activity of A. annua in treating malaria [5]. By the end of 1972, she and SPECIAL TOPIC: Advances in Artemisinin Study}, number={1}, journal={SCIENCE BULLETIN}, author={Xie, De-Yu}, year={2016}, month={Jan}, pages={42–44} } @article{xie_ma_judd_jones_2016, title={Artemisinin biosynthesis in Artemisia annua and metabolic engineering: questions, challenges, and perspectives}, volume={15}, ISSN={["1572-980X"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1007/s11101-016-9480-2}, DOI={10.1007/s11101-016-9480-2}, number={6}, journal={PHYTOCHEMISTRY REVIEWS}, publisher={Springer Nature}, author={Xie, De-Yu and Ma, Dong-Ming and Judd, Rika and Jones, Ashley Loray}, year={2016}, month={Dec}, pages={1093–1114} } @article{xie_2016, title={Metabolic Network Based Regulation of Artemisinin Biosynthesis for Anti-malarial Medicine}, volume={52}, number={Supplement}, journal={In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology - Plant}, author={Xie, De-Yu}, year={2016}, pages={S24} } @article{long_li_li_xie_peng_li_2016, title={Ontogenetic characterization of sporangium and spore of Huperzia serrata: an anti-aging disease fern}, volume={57}, ISSN={["1999-3110"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1186/s40529-016-0151-9}, DOI={10.1186/s40529-016-0151-9}, abstractNote={Huperzia serrata is a medicinal plant used in Traditional Chinese Medicine, which has been used to prevent against aging diseases. It is mainly propagated by spores and grows extremely slowly. Due to severe harvest, it is a highly endangered species. In this report, we characterize ontogenesis of sporangia and spores that are associated with propagation. A wild population of H. serrata plants is localized in western Hunan province, China and protected by Chinese Government to study its development (e.g. sporangia and spores) and ecology. Both field and microscopic observations were conducted for a few of years. The development of sporangia from their initiation to maturation took nearly 1 year. Microscopic observations showed that the sporangial walls were developed from epidermal cells via initiation, cell division, and maturation. The structure of the mature sporangial wall is composed of one layer of epidermis, two middle layers of cells, and one layer of tapetum. Therefore, the sporangium is the eusporangium type. Spore development is characterized into six stages, initiation from epidermal cell and formation of sporogenous cells, primary sporogenous cell, secondary sporogenous cell, spore mother cell, tetrad, and maturation. The sporangial development of H. serrata belongs to the eusporangium type. The development takes approximately 1 year period from the initiation to the maturation. These data are useful for improving propagation of this medicinal plant in the future.}, number={1}, journal={BOTANICAL STUDIES}, publisher={Springer Nature}, author={Long, Hua and Li, Jing and Li, You-You and Xie, De-Yu and Peng, Qing-Zhong and Li, Li}, year={2016}, month={Nov} } @article{overexpression of a synthetic insect-plant geranyl pyrophosphate synthase gene in camelina sativa alters plant growth and terpene biosynthesis_2016, volume={244}, number={1}, journal={Planta}, year={2016}, pages={215–230} } @article{xi_rossi_lin_xie_2016, title={Overexpression of a synthetic insect–plant geranyl pyrophosphate synthase gene in Camelina sativa alters plant growth and terpene biosynthesis}, volume={244}, ISSN={0032-0935 1432-2048}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/S00425-016-2504-8}, DOI={10.1007/S00425-016-2504-8}, abstractNote={A novel plastidial homodimeric insect-plant geranyl pyrophosphate synthase gene is synthesized from three different cDNA origins. Its overexpression in Camelina sativa effectively alters plant development and terpenoid metabolism. Geranyl pyrophosphate synthase (GPPS) converts one isopentenyl pyrophosphate and dimethylallyl pyrophosphate to GPP. Here, we report a synthetic insect-plant GPPS gene and effects of its overexpression on plant growth and terpenoid metabolism of Camelina sativa. We synthesized a 1353-bp cDNA, namely PTP-MpGPPS. This synthetic cDNA was composed of a 1086-bp cDNA fragment encoding a small GPPS isomer of the aphid Myzus persicae (Mp), 240-bp Arabidopsis thaliana cDNA fragment encoding a plastidial transit peptide (PTP), and a 27-bp short cDNA fragment encoding a human influenza hemagglutinin tag peptide. Structural modeling showed that the deduced protein was a homodimeric prenyltransferase. Confocal microscopy analysis demonstrated that the PTP-MpGPPS fused with green florescent protein was localized in the plastids. The synthetic PTP-MpGPPS cDNA driven by 2 × 35S promoters was introduced into Camelina (Camelina sativa) by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and its overexpression in transgenic plants were demonstrated by western blot. T2 and T3 progeny of transgenic plants developed larger leaves, grew more and longer internodes, and flowered earlier than wild-type plants. Metabolic analysis showed that the levels of beta-amyrin and campesterol were higher in tissues of transgenic plants than in those of wild-type plants. Fast isoprene sensor analysis demonstrated that transgenic Camelina plants emitted significantly less isoprene than wild-type plants. In addition, transcriptional analyses revealed that the expression levels of gibberellic acid and brassinosteroids-responsive genes were higher in transgenic plants than in wild-type plants. Taken together, these data demonstrated that this novel synthetic insect-plant GPPS cDNA was effective to improve growth traits and alter terpenoid metabolism of Camelina.}, number={1}, journal={Planta}, publisher={Springer Science and Business Media LLC}, author={Xi, Jing and Rossi, Lorenzo and Lin, Xiuli and Xie, De-Yu}, year={2016}, month={Mar}, pages={215–230} } @article{rossi_borghi_francini_lin_xie_sebastiani_2016, title={Salt stress induces differential regulation of the phenylpropanoid pathway in Olea europaea cultivars Frantoio (salt-tolerant) and Leccino (salt-sensitive)}, volume={204}, ISSN={0176-1617}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jplph.2016.07.014}, DOI={10.1016/j.jplph.2016.07.014}, abstractNote={Olive tree (Olea europaea L.) is an important crop in the Mediterranean Basin where drought and salinity are two of the main factors affecting plant productivity. Despite several studies have reported different responses of various olive tree cultivars to salt stress, the mechanisms that convey tolerance and sensitivity remain largely unknown. To investigate this issue, potted olive plants of Leccino (salt-sensitive) and Frantoio (salt-tolerant) cultivars were grown in a phytotron chamber and treated with 0, 60 and 120mM NaCl. After forty days of treatment, growth analysis was performed and the concentration of sodium in root, stem and leaves was measured by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Phenolic compounds were extracted using methanol, hydrolyzed with butanol-HCl, and quercetin and kaempferol quantified via high performance liquid-chromatography-electrospray-mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS) and HPLC-q-Time of Flight-MS analyses. In addition, the transcripts levels of five key genes of the phenylpropanoid pathway were measured by quantitative Real-Time PCR. The results of this study corroborate the previous observations, which showed that Frantoio and Leccino differ in allocating sodium in root and leaves. This study also revealed that phenolic compounds remain stable or are strongly depleted under long-time treatment with sodium in Leccino, despite a strong up-regulation of key genes of the phenylpropanoid pathway was observed. Frantoio instead, showed a less intense up-regulation of the phenylpropanoid genes but overall higher content of phenolic compounds. These data suggest that Frantoio copes with the toxicity imposed by elevated sodium not only with mechanisms of Na+ exclusion, but also promptly allocating effective and adequate antioxidant compounds to more sensitive organs.}, journal={Journal of Plant Physiology}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Rossi, Lorenzo and Borghi, Monica and Francini, Alessandra and Lin, Xiuli and Xie, De-Yu and Sebastiani, Luca}, year={2016}, month={Oct}, pages={8–15} } @article{borghi_xie_2016, title={Tissue-specific production of limonene in Camelina sativa with the Arabidopsis promoters of genes BANYULS and FRUITFULL}, volume={243}, ISSN={["1432-2048"]}, DOI={10.1007/s00425-015-2425-y}, abstractNote={Arabidopsis promoters of genes BANYULS and FRUITFULL are transcribed in Camelina. They triggered the transcription of limonene synthase and induced higher limonene production in seeds and fruits than CaMV 35S promoter. Camelina sativa (Camelina) is an oilseed crop of relevance for the production of biofuels and the plant has been target of a recent and intense program of genetic manipulation aimed to increase performance, seed yield and to modify the fatty acid composition of the oil. Here, we have explored the performance of two Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) promoters in triggering transgene expression in Camelina. The promoters of two genes BANYULS (AtBAN pro ) and FRUITFULL (AtFUL pro ), which are expressed in seed coat and valves of Arabidopsis, respectively, have been chosen to induce the expression of limonene synthase (LS) from Citrus limon. In addition, the constitutive CaMV 35S promoter was utilized to overexpress LS in Camelina . The results of experiments revealed that AtBAN pro and AtFUL pro are actively transcribed in Camelina where they also retain specificity of expression in seeds and valves as previously observed in Arabidopsis. LS induced by AtBAN pro and AtFUL pro leads to higher limonene production in seeds and fruits than when the CaMV 35S was used to trigger the expression. In conclusion, the results of experiments indicate that AtBAN pro and AtFUL pro can be successfully utilized to induce the expression of the transgenes of interest in seeds and fruits of Camelina.}, number={2}, journal={PLANTA}, author={Borghi, Monica and Xie, De-Yu}, year={2016}, month={Feb}, pages={549–561} } @article{ma_wang_wang_alejos-gonzales_sun_xie_2015, title={A Genome-Wide Scenario of Terpene Pathways in Self-pollinated Artemisia annua}, volume={8}, ISSN={["1752-9867"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.molp.2015.07.004}, abstractNote={