Identification and Functional Characterization of the Key Genes Involved in Hederagenin-based Saponins Biosynthesis in Dipsacus asperoides

D. asperoides is a widely used medicinal plant in China. D. asperoides is rich in hederagenin-based saponins and has a significant effect on many diseases, especially Asperosaponin VI, Dipsacoside B, and macranthoidin B,which have good prospects for drug development. However, the biosynthetic pathway of hederagenin-based saponins has not been resolved in this species. In the current study, HPLC-MS analysis revealed that the main active chemical component Asperosaponin VI, was shown to be significantly different expressed in two genotypes one of which contained high levels of this chemical (Da_H) and the second contained low levels (Da_L).