Overexpression of a stilbene synthase gene from Fallopia multiflora causes trans-piceid accumulation in transgenic Arabidopsis

Fallopia multiflora, also known as Polygonum multiflorum, is a traditional Chinese medicine with stilbenes as the main characteristic components. We previously isolated the presumed stilbene synthase gene FmSTS1 from F. multiflora and inserted the FmSTS1 gene into the genome of Arabidopsis thaliana under the control of cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter to evaluate its biological functions. Southern blot and Northern blot analyses were performed to confirm the integration and expression of FmSTS1 in Arabidopsis. A new stilbene compound, which was identified as trans-piceid, was found to accumulate in the transgenic Arabidopsis. This study firstly reportsFmSTS1 from F. multiflora that was heterologously expressed in transgenic Arabidopsis and resulted in the accumulation of trans-piceid, which was originally not synthesized in Arabidopsis species.