Parallel Transcriptional Regulation of Artemisinin and Flavonoid Biosynthesis

Abstract

Plants regulate the synthesis of specialized compounds through the actions of individual transcription factors (TFs) or sets of TFs. One such compound, artemisinin from Artemisia annua, is widely used as a pharmacological product in the first-line treatment of malaria. However, the emergence of resistance to artemisinin in Plasmodium species, as well as its low production rates, have required innovative treatments such as exploiting the synergistic effects of flavonoids with artemisinin. We overview current knowledge about flavonoid and artemisinin transcriptional regulation in A. annua, and review the dual action of TFs and structural genes that can regulate both pathways simultaneously. Understanding the concerted action of these TFs and their associated structural genes can guide the development of strategies to further improve flavonoid and artemisinin production.

Keywords: artemisinin; flavonoid; malaria; secondary metabolite; transcription factor.