Thesis

Investigating the Underlying Molecular Regulation Behind Methyl Jasmonate’s Role in the Terpenoid Production of the Saga Plant (Abrus precatorius): MYC2 Transcription Factors and Cis-Acting Regulatory Elements Region of Genes Involved in Triterpenoid Biosynthesis

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Abrus precatorius, colloquially known as the Saga plant, produces various secondary metabolites
with valuable pharmaceutical properties such as glycyrrhizin and abrusoside. Methyl jasmonate
(MeJA) is a phytohormone known to regulate the expression of the MYC2 transcription factor, which
in turn promotes the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites in plants. Understanding the resolution
to enhance the production of triterpenoid saponins like glycyrrhizin and abrusoside in Abrus
precatorius would be beneficial. However, knowledge about the regulatory mechanisms underlying
the biosynthesis of these compounds in this plant is still limited. This study aimed to conduct an in
silico investigation of the role of Abrus precatorius MYC2 (ApMYC2) in increasing the expression of
the enzymes that synthesize β-amyrin (a glycyrrhizin precursor) and cycloartenol (an abrusoside
precursor) when induced by MeJA treatment. The 3D protein structures of ApMYC2 were predicted,
and the promoter regions of β-amyrin synthase (ApβaS) and cycloartenol synthase (ApCaS) genes
were screened for MeJA-responsive cis-acting regulatory elements. Additionally, a DNA-protein
docking simulation was also performed to assess the interaction between the ApMYC2 transcription
factor and the MeJA-responsive element located in the ApβaS and ApCaS promoter region. The
analysis suggests that four out of five ApMYC2 predicted 3D protein structures may be fully
functional by the presence of a complete set of domains. Furthermore, three MeJA-responsive
elements (i.e. Myc motif, E-box, and G-box) were identified upstream of the ApβaS and ApCaS gene
sequence. The docking simulation between ApMYC2 and these cis-acting regulatory elements
demonstrated good docking scores and high confidence. These findings suggest that ApMYC2 likely
plays a significant role in regulating the ApβaS and ApCaS gene expression and potentially increasing
the yield of glycyrrhizin and abrusoside in Abrus precatorius.

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Availability

Detail Information

Series Title

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Call Number

BT 24-027

Publisher

i3L, Jakarta : i3L, Jakarta., 2024

Collation

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Language

English

ISBN/ISSN

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Classification

NONE

Content Type

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Media Type

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Carrier Type

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Edition

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Subject(s)

In silico
Abrus precatorius
Methyl Jasmonate
MYC2
glycyrrhizin
abrusoside

Specific Detail Info

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Statement of Responsibility

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