Analysis of the Rehmannia chingii geneome identifies RcCYP72H7 as an epoxidase in iridoid glycoside biosynthesis

Abstract Rehmannia chingii (2n = 2x = 28) is an important folk medicinal plant with high therapeutic value, particularly due to its richness in iridoid glycosides. However, research on its evolution and gene functional identification has been hindered by the lack of a high-quality genome. Here, we p...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Fengqing Wang, Zhennan Jiang, Junge Gao, Chunyan Miao, Ci Song, Yahe Yang, Ning Ding, Yajing Li, Hongzheng Sun, Caixia Xie, Bao Zhang, Pengyu Zhang, Li Gu, Qiuwen Hao, Zhongyi Zhang, Luqi Huang, Yuan Yuan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60909-9
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849238301926490112
author Fengqing Wang
Zhennan Jiang
Junge Gao
Chunyan Miao
Ci Song
Yahe Yang
Ning Ding
Yajing Li
Hongzheng Sun
Caixia Xie
Bao Zhang
Pengyu Zhang
Li Gu
Qiuwen Hao
Zhongyi Zhang
Luqi Huang
Yuan Yuan
author_facet Fengqing Wang
Zhennan Jiang
Junge Gao
Chunyan Miao
Ci Song
Yahe Yang
Ning Ding
Yajing Li
Hongzheng Sun
Caixia Xie
Bao Zhang
Pengyu Zhang
Li Gu
Qiuwen Hao
Zhongyi Zhang
Luqi Huang
Yuan Yuan
author_sort Fengqing Wang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Rehmannia chingii (2n = 2x = 28) is an important folk medicinal plant with high therapeutic value, particularly due to its richness in iridoid glycosides. However, research on its evolution and gene functional identification has been hindered by the lack of a high-quality genome. Here, we present the 1.169 Gb telomere-to-telomere (T2T) genome sequence of R. chingii. Phylogenetic analysis confirms that Rehmannia belongs to the Orobanchaceae family. We find that structural genes of the 2-C-methyl-d-erythritol-4-phosphate (MEP) pathway and the iridoid pathway are predominantly expressed in R. chingii leaves. Further analyses reveal a cytochrome P450 gene cluster localized on chromosome 8, and identify RcCYP72H7 within this cluster as an aucubin epoxidase, capable of catalyzing aucubin epoxidation to form catalpol. The genome offers valuable resources for studying iridoid glycoside biosynthesis and the evolutionary history of Rehmannia, and will help to faciliate genetic improvement of R. chingii for pharmaceutical and health-related applications.
format Article
id doaj-art-63b54ebcd0084c1da2a2ec5be2ea9017
institution Kabale University
issn 2041-1723
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Nature Communications
spelling doaj-art-63b54ebcd0084c1da2a2ec5be2ea90172025-08-20T04:01:41ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-07-0116111710.1038/s41467-025-60909-9Analysis of the Rehmannia chingii geneome identifies RcCYP72H7 as an epoxidase in iridoid glycoside biosynthesisFengqing Wang0Zhennan Jiang1Junge Gao2Chunyan Miao3Ci Song4Yahe Yang5Ning Ding6Yajing Li7Hongzheng Sun8Caixia Xie9Bao Zhang10Pengyu Zhang11Li Gu12Qiuwen Hao13Zhongyi Zhang14Luqi Huang15Yuan Yuan16College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural UniversityState Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, Experimental Research Center, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences (CACMS)College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural UniversityCollege of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural UniversityCollege of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural UniversityCollege of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural UniversityCollege of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural UniversityInstitute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese MedicineCollege of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural UniversitySchool of Medicine, Henan University of Chinese MedicineSchool of Medicine, Henan University of Chinese MedicineCollege of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural UniversityCollege of Bee Science and Biomedicine, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry UniversityCollege of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural UniversityCollege of Bee Science and Biomedicine, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry UniversityState Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, Experimental Research Center, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences (CACMS)State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, Experimental Research Center, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences (CACMS)Abstract Rehmannia chingii (2n = 2x = 28) is an important folk medicinal plant with high therapeutic value, particularly due to its richness in iridoid glycosides. However, research on its evolution and gene functional identification has been hindered by the lack of a high-quality genome. Here, we present the 1.169 Gb telomere-to-telomere (T2T) genome sequence of R. chingii. Phylogenetic analysis confirms that Rehmannia belongs to the Orobanchaceae family. We find that structural genes of the 2-C-methyl-d-erythritol-4-phosphate (MEP) pathway and the iridoid pathway are predominantly expressed in R. chingii leaves. Further analyses reveal a cytochrome P450 gene cluster localized on chromosome 8, and identify RcCYP72H7 within this cluster as an aucubin epoxidase, capable of catalyzing aucubin epoxidation to form catalpol. The genome offers valuable resources for studying iridoid glycoside biosynthesis and the evolutionary history of Rehmannia, and will help to faciliate genetic improvement of R. chingii for pharmaceutical and health-related applications.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60909-9
spellingShingle Fengqing Wang
Zhennan Jiang
Junge Gao
Chunyan Miao
Ci Song
Yahe Yang
Ning Ding
Yajing Li
Hongzheng Sun
Caixia Xie
Bao Zhang
Pengyu Zhang
Li Gu
Qiuwen Hao
Zhongyi Zhang
Luqi Huang
Yuan Yuan
Analysis of the Rehmannia chingii geneome identifies RcCYP72H7 as an epoxidase in iridoid glycoside biosynthesis
Nature Communications
title Analysis of the Rehmannia chingii geneome identifies RcCYP72H7 as an epoxidase in iridoid glycoside biosynthesis
title_full Analysis of the Rehmannia chingii geneome identifies RcCYP72H7 as an epoxidase in iridoid glycoside biosynthesis
title_fullStr Analysis of the Rehmannia chingii geneome identifies RcCYP72H7 as an epoxidase in iridoid glycoside biosynthesis
title_full_unstemmed Analysis of the Rehmannia chingii geneome identifies RcCYP72H7 as an epoxidase in iridoid glycoside biosynthesis
title_short Analysis of the Rehmannia chingii geneome identifies RcCYP72H7 as an epoxidase in iridoid glycoside biosynthesis
title_sort analysis of the rehmannia chingii geneome identifies rccyp72h7 as an epoxidase in iridoid glycoside biosynthesis
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60909-9
work_keys_str_mv AT fengqingwang analysisoftherehmanniachingiigeneomeidentifiesrccyp72h7asanepoxidaseiniridoidglycosidebiosynthesis
AT zhennanjiang analysisoftherehmanniachingiigeneomeidentifiesrccyp72h7asanepoxidaseiniridoidglycosidebiosynthesis
AT jungegao analysisoftherehmanniachingiigeneomeidentifiesrccyp72h7asanepoxidaseiniridoidglycosidebiosynthesis
AT chunyanmiao analysisoftherehmanniachingiigeneomeidentifiesrccyp72h7asanepoxidaseiniridoidglycosidebiosynthesis
AT cisong analysisoftherehmanniachingiigeneomeidentifiesrccyp72h7asanepoxidaseiniridoidglycosidebiosynthesis
AT yaheyang analysisoftherehmanniachingiigeneomeidentifiesrccyp72h7asanepoxidaseiniridoidglycosidebiosynthesis
AT ningding analysisoftherehmanniachingiigeneomeidentifiesrccyp72h7asanepoxidaseiniridoidglycosidebiosynthesis
AT yajingli analysisoftherehmanniachingiigeneomeidentifiesrccyp72h7asanepoxidaseiniridoidglycosidebiosynthesis
AT hongzhengsun analysisoftherehmanniachingiigeneomeidentifiesrccyp72h7asanepoxidaseiniridoidglycosidebiosynthesis
AT caixiaxie analysisoftherehmanniachingiigeneomeidentifiesrccyp72h7asanepoxidaseiniridoidglycosidebiosynthesis
AT baozhang analysisoftherehmanniachingiigeneomeidentifiesrccyp72h7asanepoxidaseiniridoidglycosidebiosynthesis
AT pengyuzhang analysisoftherehmanniachingiigeneomeidentifiesrccyp72h7asanepoxidaseiniridoidglycosidebiosynthesis
AT ligu analysisoftherehmanniachingiigeneomeidentifiesrccyp72h7asanepoxidaseiniridoidglycosidebiosynthesis
AT qiuwenhao analysisoftherehmanniachingiigeneomeidentifiesrccyp72h7asanepoxidaseiniridoidglycosidebiosynthesis
AT zhongyizhang analysisoftherehmanniachingiigeneomeidentifiesrccyp72h7asanepoxidaseiniridoidglycosidebiosynthesis
AT luqihuang analysisoftherehmanniachingiigeneomeidentifiesrccyp72h7asanepoxidaseiniridoidglycosidebiosynthesis
AT yuanyuan analysisoftherehmanniachingiigeneomeidentifiesrccyp72h7asanepoxidaseiniridoidglycosidebiosynthesis