Transcriptomic profiling of Phlegmariurus tetrastichus to study Lycopodium alkaloid biosynthesis

Phlegmariurus tetrastichus is a species within the Lycopodiaceae ("club mosses") that produces numerous bioactive Lycopodium alkaloids, including huperzine A (HupA), which acts as a potent, reversible inhibitor of mammalian acetylcholine esterase. HupA is produced at high levels within Phlegmariurus tetrastichus, and we have performed RNA sequencing of multiple tissues from this species in order to investigate the biosynthetic genes required for producing HupA, as well as other Lycopodium alkaloids.