{
  "abstract": "Although the biosynthetic pathways of benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs) have been extensively investigated in several plant species, their transcriptional regulatory mechanisms remain only partially understood. Jasmonate (JA)-responsive group IX APETALA2/Ethylene Responsive Factor (AP2/ERF) transcription factors (TFs) are well-known regulators of specialized plant metabolism, including the biosynthesis of various alkaloids. However, their specific roles in BIA biosynthesis remain largely elusive. Here, we isolated five novel group IX AP2/ERF TFs, designated Benzylisoquinoline alkaloid Jasmonate-responsive AP2/ERF (BJE1-5), from Coptis japonica. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Benzylisoquinoline alkaloid Jasmonate-responsive AP2/ERF (BJE) proteins belong to subclades distinct from group IXa, which contains well-known AP2/ERF TFs involved in alkaloid biosynthesis. Transient expression analyses in C. japonica protoplasts demonstrated that certain BJEs, particularly CjBJE3 and CjBJE5, positively regulated BIA biosynthetic genes through a mutual regulatory network among BJE members. Moreover, CjBJE3 expression was regulated by CjbHLH1, a unique-type basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) TF specific to BIA-producing plants. Furthermore, heterologous expression of CjBJE3 and CjBJE5 in cultured Eschscholzia californica cells significantly enhanced the overall BIA production, particularly by increasing end-product benzophenanthridine BIAs, highlighting several uncharacterized biosynthetic genes clustered in the genome. Our findings suggest that BIA-producing species have developed a specific regulatory network comprised of CjbHLH1 and BJE TFs, providing valuable clues for identifying novel biosynthetic enzymes.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Kobe Pharmaceutical University"
  ],
  "article_type": "New results",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 5,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Y. Yamada"
    },
    {
      "name": "Y. Tatsumi"
    },
    {
      "name": "A. Inagaki"
    },
    {
      "name": "N. Shitan"
    },
    {
      "name": "F. Sato"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/fxq7gkeyednec.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.64898/2026.08.30.748054",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.08.30.748054v1.full",
  "id": "fxq7gkeyednec",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.08.30.748054v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "biorxiv",
      "plant biology"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "1312|Plant Gene Expression Analysis"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7204840974",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.08.30.748054v1.full.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-08-30",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/fxq7gkeyednec.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:30Z",
      "native_id": "10.64898/2026.08.30.748054",
      "source": "biorxiv",
      "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.08.30.748054v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "biorxiv:plant biology",
      "subfield": "plant-biology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Jasmonate-responsive group IX AP2/ERF transcription factors control the biosynthesis of benzylisoquinoline alkaloids",
  "title_text": "Jasmonate-responsive group IX AP2/ERF transcription factors control the biosynthesis of benzylisoquinoline alkaloids",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:30Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/fxq7gkeyednec",
  "venue": "bioRxiv",
  "versions": []
}