Comprehensive multi-omics analysis reveals the importance of CtCOSY in the energy metabolism and coumarin biosynthesis in Clematis terniflora DC

Coumarin synthase (COSY) is the key enzyme involved in the coumarin biosynthesis. Although it has been identified firstly in Arabidopisis thaliana, there is little known about the COSY gene function in Clematis terniflora DC. Our previous study indicated that the contents of coumarins in C. terniflora leaf were increased under ultraviolet-B radiation and dark treatments (UV-D). To reveal the function of COSY in C. terniflora and its role in response to UV-D stress, the functional characterization of CtCOSY which was identified as a BADH acyl-transferase was performed. The results showed that coupled reaction of CtCOSY with 4-coumarinyl CoA-ligase in vitro to produce umbelliferone. Moreover, the functions of CtCOSY in response to UV-D stress was studied using proteomic and metabolomic techniques. Multi-omics analyses of CtCOSY-silenced C. terniflora indicated that as well as a limitation of coumarin synthesis, aspects of the energy metabolism, such as the TCA cycle, were disturbed in these plants. Under UV-D stress, CtCOSY affected the biosynthesis of phenylpropanoids in C. terniflora, resulting in the improvement of coumarin biosynthesis and affecting purine metabolism. This study provides the evidences of CtCOSY responsible for the biosynthesis of coumarin in C. terniflora and the resistance to UV-D stress.