Comprehensive transcriptome analysis of Crocus sativus for discovery and expression of genes involved in apocarotenoid biosynthesis

摘要: Crocus sativus stigmas form rich source of apocarotenoids like crocin, picrocrocin and saffranal which besides imparting color, flavour aroma to saffron spice also have tremendous pharmacological properties. Inspite their importance, the biosynthetic pathway is not fully elucidated. Moreover, mechanism stigma specific accumulation remains unknown. Therefore, deep transcriptome sequencing rest flower tissue was done identify genes transcriptional regulators involved in biosynthesis these compounds. Transcriptome sequenced using Illumina Genome Analyzer IIx platform generated 64,604,402 51,350,714 reads. Sequences were assembled de novo trinity resulting 64,438 transcripts classified into 32,204 unigenes comprising 9853 clusters 22,351 singletons. A comprehensive functional annotation gene ontology (GO) analysis carried out. 58.5 % showed similarity sequences present public databases while could be Crocus. 5789 transcription factors representing 76 families out Myb family most abundant. Many carotenoid/apocarotenoid identified for first time this study includes zeta-carotene isomerase desaturase, carotenoid lycopene epsilon-cyclase. GO that predominant classes biological process category include metabolic followed by cellular primary process. KEGG mapping indicated pathways ribosome, carbon starch sucrose metabolism highly represented. Differential expression key including phytoene synthase, desaturase cleavage dioxygenase 2 are enriched thereby providing molecular proof site apocarotenoid biosynthesis. This data would provide a understanding The database help investigating many questions related biology development.