Erythrina velutina Willd.: evaluation of transcriptome, proteome and metabolite profiling in alkaloid biosynthesis
Erythrina velutina; Multi-omics analysis; Transcriptome; Proteome; Targeted metabolite profile; Biosynthesis of Benzylisoquinoline Alkaloids; Caatinga Biome.
Plants belonging to the genus Erythrina are sources of tetracyclic benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs). These plants, commonly found in the Northeast of Brazil, in the Caatinga biome, are used in folk medicine mainly as central nervous system depressant (sedative, soothing). One of the limiting factors that impair many natural products to reach the market as a drugs is known to be the low yield and difficult to obtain in sufficient quantities to supply the pharmaceutical industry. Thus, in accordance with frontier studies in the area, it is important to understand aspects of alkaloid biosynthesis using data from transcriptome, proteome and metabolite profile analysis. In this study the focus is on Erythrina velutina, seeds and leaves, therefore, the de novo sequencing was performed for the first time in a species of the genus and in a native plant of the Caatinga biome. The proteome and targeted metabolic profile analyze were performed with an LC/MS/MS strategy and the Molecular Networking tool in a complementary way regarding secondary metabolites analysis. As a result, several genes candidates were suggested in compose the biosynthetic pathway of alkaloids in E. velutina (seeds and leaves). In addition, 29 alkaloids were annotated in both plant and leaf organs. It is hoped that these unpublished data may indicate strategic targets for biotechnological intervention for future studies in order to improve the production of these bioactive molecules in the plant, such as crop improvement or microbial pathway reconstruction. In addition, other expected impact is the valorization of a plant from Caatinga do RN as source of alkaloids with bioactive potential.