The MVA pathway genes expressions and accumulation of celastrol in Tripterygium wilfordii suspension cells in response to methyl jasmonate treatment.

Celastrol is an important bioactive triterpenoid in traditional Chinese medicinal plant,Tripterygium wilfordii. Methyl Jasmonate (MJ) is a common plant hormone which can regulate the secondary metabolism in higher plants. In this study, the mevalonate (MVA) pathway genes inT. wilfordiiwere firstly cloned.The suspension cells ofT. wilfordiiwere elicited by MJ, and the expressions of MVA pathway genes were all enhanced in different levels ranging from 2.13 to 22.33 times of that at 0 h. The expressions were also enhanced compared with the CK group separately. The accumulation of celastrol in the suspension cells after the treatment was quantified and co-analyzed with the genes expression levels. The production of celastrol was significantly increased to 0.742 mg g−1after MJ treatment in 288 h which is consistent with the genes expressions. The results provide plenty of gene information for the biosynthesis of terpenoids inT. wilfordiiand a viable way to improve the accumulation of celastrol inT. wilfordiisuspension cells. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]