Dynamic liposomal and transcriptomic profiling reveal the metabolic network and regulators governing TAGs formation in seeds of safflower

In this study, depending on quantitative liposome and transcriptomic analyses, we unveiled safflower seed lipidic landscapes at 5 different developmental stages of seeds and revealed a parallel classification of 417 lipid compounds and their co-expressed genes into 7 distinct lipidic metabolites vs gene modules (MM vs GM). An essential transcriptional regulatory network for major lipid compounds changes that occurred throughout the seed growth cycle was constructed via integrative bioinformatics coupled with functional genomic assays. Sixteen transcription factors were identified that regulate the accumulation of triacylglycerols (TAGs) and fatty acids (FAs). Our findings thus shed light on the seeds of safflower metabolic regulatory network involved in the biosynthesis of major lipid compounds and provide a prospective resource for the designed improvement of oilseed quality. Seeds in 5 different developmental stages were executed the analysis by lipisome and transcripome, three biologycal duplicates.