Integrated Metabolomic and Transcriptomic Analysis of <i>Nitraria</i> Berries Indicate the Role of Flavonoids in Adaptation to High Altitude

<b>Background:</b> Plants of <i>Nitraria</i>, belonging to the Zygophyllaceae family, are not only widely distributed at an altitude of about 1000 m but also at an altitude of about 3000 m, which is a rare phenomenon. However, little is known about the effect of altitude on t...

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Main Authors: Qing Zhao, Jie Zhang, Yanhong Li, Zufan Yang, Qian Wang, Qiangqiang Jia
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Metabolites
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/14/11/591
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author Qing Zhao
Jie Zhang
Yanhong Li
Zufan Yang
Qian Wang
Qiangqiang Jia
author_facet Qing Zhao
Jie Zhang
Yanhong Li
Zufan Yang
Qian Wang
Qiangqiang Jia
author_sort Qing Zhao
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background:</b> Plants of <i>Nitraria</i>, belonging to the Zygophyllaceae family, are not only widely distributed at an altitude of about 1000 m but also at an altitude of about 3000 m, which is a rare phenomenon. However, little is known about the effect of altitude on the accumulation of metabolites in plants of <i>Nitraria</i>. Furthermore, the mechanism of the high–altitude adaptation of <i>Nitraria</i> has yet to be fully elucidated. <b>Methods:</b> In this study, metabolomics and transcriptomics were used to investigate the differential accumulation of metabolites of <i>Nitraria</i> berries and the regulatory mechanisms in different altitudes. <b>Results:</b> As a result, the biosynthesis of flavonoids is the most significant metabolic pathway in the process of adaptation to high altitude, and 5 Cyanidins, 1 Pelargonidin, 3 Petunidins, 1 Peonidin, and 4 Delphinidins are highly accumulated in high–altitude <i>Nitraria</i>. The results of transcriptomics showed that the structural genes <i>C</i>4<i>H</i> (2), <i>F</i>3<i>H</i>, 4<i>CL</i> (2), <i>DFR</i> (2), <i>UFGT</i> (2), and <i>FLS</i> (2) were highly expressed in high–altitude <i>Nitraria</i>. A network metabolism map of flavonoids was constructed, and the accumulation of differential metabolites and the expression of structural genes were analyzed for correlation. <b>Conclusions:</b> In summary, this study preliminarily offers a new understanding of metabolic differences and regulation mechanisms in plants of <i>Nitraria</i> from different altitudes.
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spelling doaj-art-e257840af4e34f8b89c1e3c4e234afd92025-08-20T02:04:54ZengMDPI AGMetabolites2218-19892024-11-01141159110.3390/metabo14110591Integrated Metabolomic and Transcriptomic Analysis of <i>Nitraria</i> Berries Indicate the Role of Flavonoids in Adaptation to High AltitudeQing Zhao0Jie Zhang1Yanhong Li2Zufan Yang3Qian Wang4Qiangqiang Jia5State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, ChinaDepartment of Basic Medicine, Qinghai Institude of Health Sciences, Xining 810000, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China<b>Background:</b> Plants of <i>Nitraria</i>, belonging to the Zygophyllaceae family, are not only widely distributed at an altitude of about 1000 m but also at an altitude of about 3000 m, which is a rare phenomenon. However, little is known about the effect of altitude on the accumulation of metabolites in plants of <i>Nitraria</i>. Furthermore, the mechanism of the high–altitude adaptation of <i>Nitraria</i> has yet to be fully elucidated. <b>Methods:</b> In this study, metabolomics and transcriptomics were used to investigate the differential accumulation of metabolites of <i>Nitraria</i> berries and the regulatory mechanisms in different altitudes. <b>Results:</b> As a result, the biosynthesis of flavonoids is the most significant metabolic pathway in the process of adaptation to high altitude, and 5 Cyanidins, 1 Pelargonidin, 3 Petunidins, 1 Peonidin, and 4 Delphinidins are highly accumulated in high–altitude <i>Nitraria</i>. The results of transcriptomics showed that the structural genes <i>C</i>4<i>H</i> (2), <i>F</i>3<i>H</i>, 4<i>CL</i> (2), <i>DFR</i> (2), <i>UFGT</i> (2), and <i>FLS</i> (2) were highly expressed in high–altitude <i>Nitraria</i>. A network metabolism map of flavonoids was constructed, and the accumulation of differential metabolites and the expression of structural genes were analyzed for correlation. <b>Conclusions:</b> In summary, this study preliminarily offers a new understanding of metabolic differences and regulation mechanisms in plants of <i>Nitraria</i> from different altitudes.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/14/11/591<i>Nitraria</i> berriesmetabolomictranscriptomicflavonoidsaltitude
spellingShingle Qing Zhao
Jie Zhang
Yanhong Li
Zufan Yang
Qian Wang
Qiangqiang Jia
Integrated Metabolomic and Transcriptomic Analysis of <i>Nitraria</i> Berries Indicate the Role of Flavonoids in Adaptation to High Altitude
Metabolites
<i>Nitraria</i> berries
metabolomic
transcriptomic
flavonoids
altitude
title Integrated Metabolomic and Transcriptomic Analysis of <i>Nitraria</i> Berries Indicate the Role of Flavonoids in Adaptation to High Altitude
title_full Integrated Metabolomic and Transcriptomic Analysis of <i>Nitraria</i> Berries Indicate the Role of Flavonoids in Adaptation to High Altitude
title_fullStr Integrated Metabolomic and Transcriptomic Analysis of <i>Nitraria</i> Berries Indicate the Role of Flavonoids in Adaptation to High Altitude
title_full_unstemmed Integrated Metabolomic and Transcriptomic Analysis of <i>Nitraria</i> Berries Indicate the Role of Flavonoids in Adaptation to High Altitude
title_short Integrated Metabolomic and Transcriptomic Analysis of <i>Nitraria</i> Berries Indicate the Role of Flavonoids in Adaptation to High Altitude
title_sort integrated metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis of i nitraria i berries indicate the role of flavonoids in adaptation to high altitude
topic <i>Nitraria</i> berries
metabolomic
transcriptomic
flavonoids
altitude
url https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/14/11/591
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AT qianwang integratedmetabolomicandtranscriptomicanalysisofinitrariaiberriesindicatetheroleofflavonoidsinadaptationtohighaltitude
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