Zhao Qing's research group has made important progress in the study of methoxyflavonoid metabolism in Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi

On September 7, 2021, Plant Biotechnology Journal published an online publication titled "Two types of O-methyltransferase are involved in biosynthesis of anticancer methoxylated 4′-deoxyflavones in Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi" by Zhao Qing's research group from the Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences .

Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi is an important traditional medicinal plant.

Furthermore, two oxygen-position methyltransferase (OMT) families (class I and II) were found in Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi to participate in the biosynthesis of methoxyflavonoids in the roots of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi

SbFOMT3, SbFOMT5 and SbFOMT6 of the OMT family of type I are mainly responsible for the C7-methoxylation of flavonoids

In the above two master OMT characteristic on the basis of co-expressed in yeast SbPFOMT5 researchers and SbFOMT6, and add the corresponding hydroxy flavone, the yeast to produce a skullcapflavone the I

This article proves through experiments that methylation can significantly increase the activity of flavonoids to inhibit the growth of cancer cells, and is not toxic to normal cells

Zhao Qing, the young research team leader of the Center for Molecular Plant Excellence, is the corresponding author, and Cui Mengying, Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden, is the first author

Article link: https://onlinelibrary.