ArticleBMC plant biology2025
Decoding pilocarpine biosynthesis and its roles in Pilocarpus microphyllus through a comparative transcriptomics approach.
Article in BMC plant biology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- De Novo Chromosome-Level Assembly of the Endangered Pilocarpus Microphyllus Highlights Genomic Resources for Conservation and Sustainable Pilocarpine Extraction.Genome biology and evolution · 2026Article
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13 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundPilocarpus microphyllus, widely known as jaborandi, faces a decline in its natural population due to unsustainable harvesting for pilocarpine extraction, an imidazole alkaloid with significant pharmacological properties. This study presents the first comparative transcriptomic analysis in jaborandi by investigating gene expression across four different tissues (leaflets, rachis, root, and stem) and exploring potential pathways and functions involved in pilocarpine biosynthesis.
resultsThe comparisons involving the root had the highest number of DEGs, including root vs. leaflets, rachis vs. root, and stem vs. root. In contrast, no DEGs were identified in the comparison between stem and leaflets. We observed that the root exhibited the most diverse functional profile, including an abundance of TFs involved in alkaloid biosynthesis. Functional enrichment analysis of root-overexpressed genes revealed associations with cell transport, regulatory processes, and defense responses. In contrast, aerial tissues exhibited enrichment for photosynthesis and oxidative stress response pathways, with antioxidant enzymes highly expressed in the leaflets—the primary site of pilocarpine accumulation in its final form—suggesting a potential link between pilocarpine production and the plant’s antioxidative response.
conclusionsThe presence of enzymes potentially involved in pilocarpine biosynthesis in both aerial and root tissues supports the idea that its biosynthesis is a multi-tissue process. This study provides important insights into the metabolic pathways for advancing conservation strategies and promoting sustainable management of this species.
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