Complete biosynthetic pathway of furochromones in Saposhnikovia divaricata and its evolutionary mechanism in Apiaceae plants

Jian-lin Zou, Hong-ye Li, Bao Nie, Zi-long Wang, Chun-xue Zhao, Yun-gang Tian, Li-qun Lin, Wei-zhe Xu, Zhuang-wei Hou, Wen-kai Sun, Xiao-xu Han, Meng Zhang, Hao-tian Wang, Qing-yan Li, Li Wang () and Min Ye ()
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Jian-lin Zou: Peking University
Hong-ye Li: Peking University
Bao Nie: Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Zi-long Wang: Peking University
Chun-xue Zhao: Peking University
Yun-gang Tian: Peking University
Li-qun Lin: Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Wei-zhe Xu: A-1 Gaojing
Zhuang-wei Hou: Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Wen-kai Sun: Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Xiao-xu Han: Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Meng Zhang: Peking University
Hao-tian Wang: Peking University
Qing-yan Li: A-1 Gaojing
Li Wang: Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Min Ye: Peking University

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-15

Abstract: Abstract Furochromones are specific bioactive secondary metabolites of many Apiaceae plants. Their biosynthesis remains largely unexplored. In this work, we dissect the complete biosynthetic pathway of major furochromones in the medicinal plant Saposhnikovia divaricata by characterizing prenyltransferase, peucenin cyclase, methyltransferase, hydroxylase, and glycosyltransferases. De novo biosynthesis of prim-O-glucosylcimifugin and 5-O-methylvisamminoside is realized in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. Through comparative genomic and transcriptomic analyses, we further find that proximal duplication and high expression of a pentaketide chromone synthase gene SdPCS, together with the presence of a lineage-specific peucenin cyclase gene SdPC, lead to the predominant accumulation of furochromones in the roots of S. divaricata among surveyed Apiaceae plants. This study paves the way for metabolic engineering production of furochromones, and sheds light into evolutionary mechanisms of furochromone biosynthesis among Apiaceae plants.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-58498-8

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