Expression analysis of ginsenoside biosynthesis-related genes in methyl jasmonate-treated adventitious roots of Panax ginseng via DNA microarray analysis

Many ginsenoside biosynthesis-related genes have been identified in Panax ginseng. However, there is no report of the analysis of changes in gene expression induced methyl jasmonic acid (MeJA) using DNA microarray analysis. To identify the genes related to ginsenoside biosynthesis, we harvested P. ginseng adventitious roots at 0, 24, 72 and 120 h after MeJA treatment. At 120 h after MeJA elicitation, the contents of all ginsenosides increased compared to the control. We analyzed gene expression patterns in ginseng adventitious roots treated with MeJA using DNA microarray analysis and selected candidate genes related to ginsenoside biosynthesis, including genes encoding squalene synthase (SQS), squalene epoxidase (SE), dammarenediol-II synthase (DS), cytochrome P450 oxidase (CYP) and glycosyltransferase (GT). The expression patterns of these genes in MeJA-treated ginseng adventitious roots obtained by quantitative RT-PCR were consistent with those obtained by microarray analysis. Therefore, DNA microarray analysis is an efficient tool for selecting candidate genes associated with secondary metabolite biosynthesis in plants.