<i>AaCOI1</i>, Encoding a CORONATINE INSENSITIVE 1-Like Protein of <i>Artemisia annua</i> L., Is Involved in Development, Defense, and Anthocyanin Synthesis

• Main Authors: Rong Liu, Jinbiao Wang, Mu Xiao, Xiewang Gao, Jin Chen, Yanjiao Dai
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-02-01
• Series: Genes
• Subjects: <i>artemisia annua</i>; coi1; jasmonate signaling; development; defense; anthocyanin
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/11/2/221

<i>Artemisia annua</i> is an important medicinal plant producing the majority of the antimalarial compound artemisinin. Jasmonates are potent inducers of artemisinin accumulation in <i>Artemisisa annua</i> plants. As the receptor of jasmonates, the F-box protein COI1 is critical to the JA signaling required for plant development, defense, and metabolic homeostasis. <i>AaCOI1</i> from <i>Artemisia annua</i>, homologous to <i>Arabidopsis AtCOI1</i>, encodes a F-box protein located in the nuclei. Expressional profiles of the <i>AaCOI1</i> in the root, stem, leaves, and inflorescence was investigated. The mRNA abundance of <i>AaCOI1</i> was the highest in inflorescence, followed by in the leaves. Upon mechanical wounding or MeJA treatment, expression of <i>AaCOI1</i> was upregulated after 6 h. When ectopically expressed, driven by the native promoter from <i>Arabidopsis thaliana</i>, <i>AaCOI1</i> could partially complement the JA sensitivity and defense responses, but fully complemented the fertility, and the JA-induced anthocyanin accumulation in a <i>coi1-16</i> loss-of-function mutant. Our study identifies the paralog of AtCOI1 in <i>Artemisia annua</i>, and revealed its implications in development, hormone signaling, defense, and metabolism. The results provide insight into JA perception in <i>Artemisia annua</i>, and pave the way for novel molecular breeding strategies in the canonical herbs to manipulate the anabolism of pharmaceutic compounds on the phytohormonal level.