Genome evolution and glycosyltransferase diversification shape asperosaponin biosynthesis in Dipsacus asperoides
- 1Yunnan Agricultural University
Abstract
Deciphering the genomic and enzymatic features associated with high-abundance specialized metabolism is important for understanding and engineering bioactive natural product biosynthesis. Asperosaponin , a hederagenin-based saponin, accumulates at exceptionally high levels in Dipsacus asperoides roots and is by far the predominant triterpenoid saponin. Here, by integrating a chromosome-level genome assembly with comparative genomics, transcriptomics, metabolite profiling, and biochemical characterization, we reconstructed a major biosynthetic route to asperosaponin and identified diversification of triterpenoid-associated gene families. Functional analyses revealed an ordered glycosylation sequence in which DaUGT73GZ2 preferentially accepts C-3-glycosylated substrates retaining a free C-28 carboxyl group, thereby establishing a C-3-before-C-28 glycosylation order during asperosaponin biosynthesis. Phylogenetic and biochemical analyses further uncovered functional differentiation among UGT85CA enzymes involved in C-3 arabinosylation, while genomic and expression analyses revealed lineage-specific patterns of pathway gene duplication and transcriptional regulation. Together, these findings identify genomic, enzymatic, and transcriptional features associated with the distinctive, high-abundance triterpenoid saponin profile of D. asperoides roots and provide a framework for understanding and engineering triterpenoid saponin biosynthesis.
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BibTeX
@misc{yang2026genome,
title = {{Genome evolution and glycosyltransferase diversification shape asperosaponin biosynthesis in Dipsacus asperoides}},
author = {R. Yang and C. Fu and X. Zhao and Y. Zhao and W. Huang and M. Li and G. Xiang and J. Xiong and Y. Wang and G. Chen and Q. Liu and S. Yang and G. Zhang and S. He and Y. Liang},
howpublished = {bioRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.64898/2026.11.03.763632},
url = {https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.11.03.763632v1},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Genome evolution and glycosyltransferase diversification shape asperosaponin biosynthesis in Dipsacus asperoides
AU - R. Yang
AU - C. Fu
AU - X. Zhao
AU - Y. Zhao
AU - W. Huang
AU - M. Li
AU - G. Xiang
AU - J. Xiong
AU - Y. Wang
AU - G. Chen
AU - Q. Liu
AU - S. Yang
AU - G. Zhang
AU - S. He
AU - Y. Liang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/03
PB - bioRxiv
DO - 10.64898/2026.11.03.763632
UR - https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.11.03.763632v1
AB - Deciphering the genomic and enzymatic features associated with high-abundance specialized metabolism is important for understanding and engineering bioactive natural product biosynthesis. Asperosaponin , a hederagenin-based saponin, accumulates at exceptionally high levels in Dipsacus asperoides roots and is by far the predominant triterpenoid saponin. Here, by integrating a chromosome-level genome assembly with comparative genomics, transcriptomics, metabolite profiling, and biochemical characterization, we reconstructed a major biosynthetic route to asperosaponin and identified diversification of triterpenoid-associated gene families. Functional analyses revealed an ordered glycosylation sequence in which DaUGT73GZ2 preferentially accepts C-3-glycosylated substrates retaining a free C-28 carboxyl group, thereby establishing a C-3-before-C-28 glycosylation order during asperosaponin biosynthesis. Phylogenetic and biochemical analyses further uncovered functional differentiation among UGT85CA enzymes involved in C-3 arabinosylation, while genomic and expression analyses revealed lineage-specific patterns of pathway gene duplication and transcriptional regulation. Together, these findings identify genomic, enzymatic, and transcriptional features associated with the distinctive, high-abundance triterpenoid saponin profile of D. asperoides roots and provide a framework for understanding and engineering triterpenoid saponin biosynthesis.
ER -