Licorice genome reveals genes for medicine and desert survival
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Researchers at Shihezi University in China created the first complete genetic map of Glycyrrhiza uralensis, a licorice species used in traditional medicine, along with maps of two related species.
The team sequenced all of the plant’s chromosomes, including difficult-to-map regions, to create a “telomere-to-telomere” reference genome. This complete map allowed them to study how licorice produces chemicals like glycyrrhizic acid and how it survives in harsh desert environments.
The scientists then analyzed the genomes of 188 wild licorice plants collected in northwestern China’s Xinjiang region. They found genetic differences between licorice growing in different areas, shaped by the Tianshan Mountains. This analysis also revealed that licorice species sometimes exchange genetic material through hybridization, potentially combining beneficial traits.
By examining which genes were active in plants with high levels of medicinal compounds, the researchers identified a gene called 4CL5 as key to producing licochalcone A, a substance with anti-inflammatory properties. They also discovered that this gene, when activated by a transcription factor named GiPHL1, also helps the plant withstand drought conditions. This suggests that the plant's ability to survive in the desert and produce valuable medicines are linked.
