Caffeic acid O-methyltransferase from Ligusticum chuanxiong alleviates drought stress, and improves lignin and melatonin biosynthesis.

ABSTRACT: Drought stress is a major constraint on plant growth and agricultural productivity. Caffeic acid O-methyltransferase (COMT), an enzyme involved in the methylation of various substrates, plays a pivotal role in plant responses to abiotic stress. The involvement of COMTs in drought response, particularly through the enhancement of lignin and melatonin biosynthesis, remains poorly understood. In this study, LcCOMT was firstly proposed to be associated with the biosynthesis of both lignin and melatonin, as demonstrated through sequence comparison, phylogenetic analysis, and conserved motif identification. In vitro enzymatic assays revealed that LcCOMT effectively methylates N-acetylserotonin to melatonin, albeit with a higher Km value compared to caffeic acid. Site-directed mutag

SUBMITTER: Huang E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11445181 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature