@article {46724,
	title = {Biosynthesis and tissue-specific partitioning of camphor and eugenol in Ocimum kilimandscharicum},
	journal = {Phytochemistry},
	volume = {177},
	year = {2020},
	month = {SEP},
	pages = {112451},
	type = {Article},
	abstract = {<p>In Ocimum kilimandscharicum, the relative volatile composition of camphor in leaves was as high as 55\%, while that of eugenol in roots was 57\%. These metabolites were differentially partitioned between the aerial and root tissues. Global metabolomics revealed tissue-specific biochemical specialization, evident by the differential distribution of 2588 putative metabolites across nine tissues. Next-generation sequencing analysis indicated differential expression of 51 phenylpropanoid and 55 terpenoid pathway genes in aerial and root tissues. By integrating metabolomics with transcriptomics, the camphor biosynthesis pathway in O. kilimandscharicum was elucidated. In planta bioassays revealed the role of geranyl diphosphate synthase (gpps) and borneol dehydrogenase (bdh) in camphor biosynthesis. Further, the partitioning of camphor was attributed to tissue-specific gene expression of both the pathway entry point (gpps) and terminal (bdh) enzyme. Unlike camphor, eugenol accumulated more in roots; however, absence of the eugenol synthase gene in roots indicated long distance transport from aerial tissues. In silico co-expression analysis indicated the potential involvement of ATP-binding cassette, multidrug and toxic compound extrusion, and sugar transporters in eugenol transport. Similar partitioning was evident across five other Ocimum species. Overall, our work indicates that metabolite partitioning maybe a finely regulated process, which may have implications on plant growth, development, and defense.</p>
},
	keywords = {Borneol dehydrogenase, Camphor, Eugenol, Geranyl diphosphate synthase, Lamiaceae, Metabolite partitioning, Metabolomics, Ocimum kilimandscharicum, Transcriptomics},
	issn = {0031-9422},
	doi = {10.1016/j.phytochem.2020.112451},
	author = {Singh, Priyanka and Kalunke, Raviraj M. and Shukla, Anurag and Tzfadia, Oren and Thulasiram, V. Hirekodathakallu and Giri, Ashok P.}
}
@article {47347,
	title = {Functional insights into two Ocimum kilimandscharicum 4-coumarate-CoA ligases involved in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis},
	journal = {International Journal of Biological Macromolecules},
	volume = {181},
	year = {2021},
	month = {JUN },
	pages = {202-210},
	type = {Article},
	abstract = {<p>Plant 4-coumarate-CoA ligase (4CL) catalyzes the ligation of CoA to cinnamic acid and its derivatives. Activated CoA esters are utilized for the biosynthesis of phenolic metabolites and lignin that play essential function in plants. Here, we characterize the diversity of Ocimum kilimandscharicum 4CLs (Ok4CLs). Phylogenetic analysis suggest that Ok4CLs could be grouped into three classes, class I -enzymes mostly involved in lignin biosynthesis, class II -non-structural phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and class III -yet to be characterized for specific role(s). We selected two Ok4CLs namely Ok4CL7 and Ok4CL15 for further characterization. Gene expression analysis sug-gested that Ok4CL7 is highly expressed in leaf trichomes, whereas Ok4CL15 is abundant in the roots. The recom-binant Ok4CL7 and Ok4CL15 had optimal enzyme activities at 40 degrees C in pH 8 and 7, respectively. Ok4CL7 showed substrate preference towards p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid and caffeic acid. While, Ok4CL15 preferredp-coumaric acid, ferulic acid and sinapic acid. Feruloyl adenylate showed higher number of contacts and lowers binding en-ergy with Ok4CL7 and 15 compared to cinnamoyl adenylate. Based on root-specific expression and preference for sinapic acid, Ok4CL15 might be involved in lignin biosynthesis. Further exploration is needed to unravel the role of diverse Ok4CLs in O. kilimandscharicum. (c) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.</p>},
	keywords = {4-Coumarate-CoA ligase, Flavonoids, lignin, Ocimum kilimandscharicum, Phenylpropanoids},
	issn = {0141-8130},
	doi = {10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.03.129},
	author = {Lavhale, Santosh G. and Joshi, Rakesh S. and Kumar, Yashwant and Giri, Ashok P.}
}
