Camellia sinensis Genome sequencing and assembly

Camellia sinensis (L.) O.Kuntze is a world-known beverage. Catechins are major medically active components of Camellia sinensis, which can be used clinically to treat hyperglycemia, bacteria, and cancer. To identify the genes involved in catechins biosynthesis, we analyzed transcriptome data from different kinds of Camellia sinensis using the DNBSEQ technology. A total of 47,717 unigenes were obtained from different kinds of Camellia sinensis, of which 9,429 were predicted new unigenes. In analyses of the KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genome) database, 212 unigenes that encode the 13 key enzymes involved in catechins biosynthesis were identified, and leucoanthocyanidin reductase (EC: 1.17.1.3), anthocyanidin reductase (1.3.1.77) were spatially simulated. Some of these key enzyme unigenes were verified by RT-qPCR (real-time quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction). Furthermore, multiple genes encoding plant resistance proteins or transcription factors were identified and analyzed. Differentially expressed genes were identified by performing pairwise comparison of genes between leaves. This study increases the number of public transcript datasets of this species and identifies candidate genes related to the biosynthesis of catechins, laying a foundation for the further exploration of catechin biosynthesis in different kind of Camellia sinensis.