AUTHOR=Petrović Luka , Filipović Biljana , Skorić Marijana , Šiler Branislav , Banjanac Tijana , Matekalo Dragana , Nestorović Živković Jasmina , Dmitrović Slavica , Aničić Neda , Milutinović Milica , Božunović Jelena , Gašić Uroš , Mišić Danijela 

TITLE=Molecular background of the diverse metabolic profiles in leaves and inflorescences of naked catmint (Nepeta nuda L.)

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=15

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2024.1452804

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2024.1452804

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<p><italic>Nepeta nuda</italic> L. shares a typical secondary chemistry with other <italic>Nepeta</italic> species (fam. <italic>Lamiaceae</italic>), characterized by the tendency to intensively produce monoterpenoid iridoids, whereas the phenylpropanoid chemistry is steered towards the production of a caffeic acid ester, rosmarinic acid. Combining complementary state-of-the-art analytical techniques, <italic>N. nuda</italic> metabolome was here comprehensively characterized in the quest for the organ-specific composition of phenolics and terpenoids that possess well-defined functions in plant-biotic interactions as well as therapeutic potential. <italic>N. nuda</italic> inflorescences showed generally higher constitutive levels of specialized metabolites, as compared to leaves, and the composition of major iridoids and phenolics in reproductive organs was found to be more conserved than in leaves across 13 populations from the Central Balkans. The results suggest that <italic>N. nuda</italic> plants most likely invest more in constitutive than inducible biosynthesis of functional metabolites in flowers, since they are of essential importance for both pollination and defense against herbivores and pathogens. Conversely, specialized metabolism of leaves is found to be more susceptible to reprograming in response to differential growth conditions. The defense strategy of leaves, primarily functioning in CO<sub>2</sub> fixation during photosynthesis, more likely relies on the induction of metabolite levels following plant-environment interplay. Organ-specific biosynthesis of iridoids in <italic>N. nuda</italic> is found to be tightly regulated at the transcriptional level, and high constitutive levels of these compounds in inflorescences most likely result from the up-regulated expression of several key genes (<italic>NnG8H</italic>, <italic>NnNEPS1</italic>, <italic>NnNEPS2</italic>, and <italic>NnNEPS3</italic>) determining the metabolic flux through the pathway. The organ-specific content of rosmarinic acid and co-expression patterns of the corresponding biosynthetic genes were much less correlated, which suggests independent organ-specific transcriptional regulation of the iridoid and phenolic pathways. Knowledge gathered within the present study can assist growers to select productive genotypes and manipulate phenology of <italic>N. nuda</italic> towards maximizing yields and facilitating its integration into pest management systems and other applications related to human health.</p>