The triterpenes in bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) show a variety of medicinal activities. Oxidosqualene cyclase (OSC) plays an indispensable role in the formation of triterpene skeletons during triterpene biosynthesis. In this study, we identified nine genes encoding OSCs from bitter gourd (McOSC1–9). Analyses of their expression patterns in different tissues suggested that characteristic triterpenoids may be biosynthesized in different tissues and then transported. We constructed a hairy root system in which McOSC7 overexpression led to an increased accumulation of camaldulenic acid, enoxolone, and quinovic acid. Thus, the overexpression of McOSC7 increased the active components content in bitter gourd. Our data provide an important foundation for understanding the roles of McOSCs in triterpenoid synthesis.

中文翻译：

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OSC基因家族的全基因组鉴定及其在苦瓜中熊烷型和齐墩果烷型三萜合成中的潜在功能

苦瓜（苦瓜）中的三萜类化合物具有多种药用活性。氧化角鲨烯环化酶（OSC）在三萜生物合成过程中三萜骨架的形成中起着不可或缺的作用。在这项研究中，我们从苦瓜中鉴定出 9 个编码 OSC 的基因( McOSC1-9 ) 。对其在不同组织中表达模式的分析表明，特征性三萜类化合物可能在不同组织中被生物合成，然后被转运。我们构建了一个毛状根系，其中McOSC7过表达导致 camaldulenic acid、enoxolone 和 quinovic acid 的积累增加。因此，McOSC7的过表达增加了苦瓜中的有效成分含量。我们的数据为理解 McOSCs 在三萜类化合物合成中的作用提供了重要基础。