DNA Research is an internationally peer-reviewed journal which aims at publishing papers of highest quality in broad aspects of DNA and genome-related research. Emphasis will be made on the following subjects: 1) Sequencing and characterization of genomes/important genomic regions, 2) Comprehensive analysis of the functions of genes, gene families and genomes, 3) Techniques and equipments useful for structural and functional analysis of genes, gene families and genomes, 4) Computer algorithms and/or their applications relevant to structural and functional analysis of genes and genomes. The journal also welcomes novel findings in other scientific disciplines related to genomes.
Ting Li, Yu Xi, Yumeng Ren, Minghui Kang, Wenjie Yang, Landi Feng, Quanjun Hu
AbstractGentiana dahurica Fisch. is a perennial herb of the family Gentianaceae. This species is used as a traditional Tibetan medicine because of its rich gentiopicroside constituents. Here, we generate a high-quality, chromosome-level genome of G. dahurica with a total length of 1,416.54 Mb. Comparative genomic analyses showed that G. dahurica shared one whole-genome duplication (WGD) event with Gelsemium sempervirens of the family Gelsemiaceaei and had one additional species-specific WGD after the ancient whole-genome triplication with other eudicots. Further transcriptome analyses identified numerous enzyme coding genes and the transcription factors related to gentiopicroside biosynthesis. A set of candidate cytochrome P450 genes were identified for being involved in biosynthetic shifts from swertiamarin to gentiopicroside. Both gene expressions and the contents measured by high-performance liquid chromatography indicated that the gentiopicrosides were mainly synthesized in the rhizomes with the highest contents. In addition, we found that two above-mentioned WGDs, contributed greatly to the identified candidate genes involving in gentiopicroside biosynthesis. The first reference genome of Gentianaceae we generated here will definitely accelerate evolutionary, ecological, and pharmaceutical studies of this family.