AUTHOR=Wang Sifan , Cao Xue , Meng Xiangxiao , Aili Maimaiti , Dou Qin , Wang Yan , Wahab Atia Tul , Chen Shilin , Sun Wei , Wan Huihua , Chen Weiqiang 

TITLE=Characterization and expression analysis of MATEs in Cannabis sativa L. reveals genes involving in cannabinoid synthesis

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2022.1021088

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2022.1021088

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<p>The medicinal plant <italic>Cannabis sativa</italic> L. (<italic>C. sativa</italic>) accumulates plant cytotoxic but medicinally important cannabinoids in glandular trichomes and flowers of female plants. Although the major biosynthetic pathway of cannabinoids has been revealed, their transportation mechanism is still unknown. Multidrug and toxic compound extrusion proteins (MATEs) can transport plant metabolites, ions and phytohormones intra and inter-cellularly. MATEs could have the potential to translocate cannabinoids or their synthetic intermediates to cellular compartment, thus protecting them from unwanted modifications and cytotoxicity. In this study, we performed a genome-wide identification and expression analysis of <italic>Cannabis sativa</italic> MATEs (CsMATEs) and revealed 42 CsMATEs that were classified phylogenetically into four conserved subfamilies. Forty-two <italic>CsMATEs</italic> were unevenly distributed on 10 chromosomes, with 50% <italic>CsMATEs</italic> were physically adjacent to at least one another <italic>CsMATEs</italic> and 83% CsMATEs localized on plasma membrane. Tandem duplication is the major evolutionary driving force for <italic>CsMATEs</italic> expansion. Real-time quantitative PCR revealed <italic>CsMATE23</italic>, <italic>CsMATE28</italic> and <italic>CsMATE34</italic> mainly expressed in flower, whereas <italic>CsMATE17</italic> and <italic>CsMATE27</italic> showed strong transcription in root. Light responsive <italic>cis</italic>-acting element was most abundant in promoters of <italic>CsMATE23</italic>, <italic>CsMATE28</italic> and <italic>CsMATE34</italic>. Finally, the contents of cannabinoids and corresponding biosynthetic intermediates as well as expressions of <italic>CsMATE28</italic> and <italic>CsMATE34</italic> were determined under UV-B treatment, among which strong correlation was found. Our results indicates that CsMATEs might involve in biosynthesis of cannabinoids and has the potential to be used in heterologous production of cannabinoids.</p>