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.

多穗石杉（Phlegmariurus tetrastichus）是石松科（Lycopodiaceae，俗称石松类植物）的一个物种，可合成多种具有生物活性的石松生物碱（Lycopodium alkaloids），其中石杉碱甲（huperzine A，HupA）是一种强效可逆的哺乳动物乙酰胆碱酯酶抑制剂。该物种中石杉碱甲的含量较高，本研究对其多种组织开展了RNA测序，以探究其合成石杉碱甲及其他石松生物碱所需的生物合成基因。