Polymerization of proanthocyanidins under the catalysis of miR397a-regulated laccases in Salvia miltiorrhiza and Populus trichocarpa

Caili Li, Xiaoxiao Qiu, Xuemin Hou, Dongqiao Li, Maochang Jiang, Xinyun Cui, Xian Pan, Fenjuan Shao, Quanzi Li, Xie De-Yu, Vincent L. Chiang and Shanfa Lu ()
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Caili Li: Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College
Xiaoxiao Qiu: Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College
Xuemin Hou: Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College
Dongqiao Li: Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College
Maochang Jiang: Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College
Xinyun Cui: Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College
Xian Pan: Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College
Fenjuan Shao: Chinese Academy of Forestry
Quanzi Li: Zhejiang A & F University
Xie De-Yu: North Carolina State University
Vincent L. Chiang: North Carolina State University
Shanfa Lu: Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-19

Abstract: Abstract Proanthocyanidins (PAs) play significant roles in plants and are bioactive compounds with health benefits. The polymerization mechanism has been debated for decades. Here we show that laccases (LACs) are involved in PA polymerization and miR397a is a negative regulator of PA biosynthesis in Salvia miltiorrhiza and Populus trichocarpa. Elevation of miR397a level causes significant downregulation of LACs, severe reduction of polymerized PAs, and significant increase of flavan-3-ol monomers in transgenic S. miltiorrhiza and P. trichocarpa plants. Enzyme activity analysis shows that miR397a-regulated SmLAC1 catalyzes the polymerization of flavan-3-ols and the conversion of B-type PAs to A-type. Both catechin and epicatechin can serve as the starter unit and the extension unit during PA polymerization. Overexpression of SmLAC1 results in significant increase of PA accumulation, accompanied by the decrease of catechin and epicatechin contents. Consistently, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated SmLAC1 knockout shows the opposite results. Based on these results, a scheme for LAC-catalyzed PA polymerization is proposed. The work provides insights into PA polymerization mechanism.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-56864-0

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