GiMYB76, a MeJA-inducible R2R3-type transcription factor, regulates licochalcone A biosynthesis in licorice (Glycyrrhiza inflata)

Authors

• Yuping Li, CAS - South China Institute of Botany
• Zhigeng Wu, CAS - South China Institute of Botany
• Jixiang Zhu, CAS - South China Institute of Botany
• Jiangyi Zeng, CAS - South China Institute of Botany
• Yongliang Liu, University of KentuckyFollow
• Jihua Wang, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences
• Ling Yuan, University of KentuckyFollow
• Ying Wang, CAS - South China Institute of BotanyFollow
• Yongqing Li, CAS - South China Institute of BotanyFollow

Abstract

Licochalcone A (LCA) is a characteristic compound in licorice Glycyrrhiza inflata and is widely utilized in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. However, the biosynthetic pathway and regulatory mechanisms of LCA remain poorly understood. In this study, we first found the accumulation of LCA is induced by methyl jasmonate (MeJA). Given that MYB transcriptional factors are well-documented as key regulators of flavonoid biosynthesis, we identified a total of 147 GiR2R3-MYB genes in G. inflata, which were classified into 28 subgroups. The chromosome distributions, sequence characteristics, gene structures, duplication events and cis-acting elements were also investigated. Through integrated analysis of GiR2R3-MYBs expression patterns across different tissues and under MeJA treatment, along with phylogenetic relationship, we identified GiMYB76—a MeJA-inducible MYB transcription factor—as a potential regulator of LCA accumulation. Functional validation showed that transgenic hairy roots overexpressing GiMYB76 exhibited a significant increase in LCA content. DAP-seq analysis of GiMYB76 revealed potential target genes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis regulation. Subsequent promoter activity assay verified that GiMYB76 can bind to the promoter and activate the expression of GiCHS4. Consistently, overexpression of GiCHS4 in G. inflata hairy roots also significantly enhanced LCA production. This study not only clarifies that GiMYB76 transcriptionally activated GiCHS4 to promote LCA biosynthesis but also provides valuable insights for basic research on licorice and the development of related industries.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-1-2026

Notes/Citation Information

Publisher Copyright: © 2025 Crop Science Society of China and Institute of Crop Science, CAAS. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1016/j.cj.2025.08.015

Archival?

Archival

Repository Citation

Li, Yuping; Wu, Zhigeng; Zhu, Jixiang; Zeng, Jiangyi; Liu, Yongliang; Wang, Jihua; Yuan, Ling; Wang, Ying; and Li, Yongqing, "GiMYB76, a MeJA-inducible R2R3-type transcription factor, regulates licochalcone A biosynthesis in licorice (Glycyrrhiza inflata)" (2026). Plant and Soil Sciences Faculty Publications. 203.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/pss_facpub/203