Single-nucleus transcriptomics reveal the morphogenesis and artemisinin biosynthesis in Artemisia annua glandular trichomes.

ABSTRACT: Artemisinin, the key antimalarial drug, is synthesized in Artemisia annua glandular secretory trichomes (GSTs), yet their development and artemisinin's precise cellular origins are unclear. Utilizing single-nucleus RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics, we construct a high-resolution cellular atlas mapping metabolic dynamics across GST development. We define three developmental states: the initiation phase, transcriptional activation of core metabolic pathways establishes fundamental cellular machinery; the intermediate phase, marked lipid metabolism activation with coordinated fatty acid and wax biosynthesis, accompanied by active photosynthetic activity; the terminal differentiation phase, metabolite specialized through spatial compartmentalization of terpenoid and lipid biosyntheti

SUBMITTER: Zhang M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12484641 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature