A Comprehensive Analysis of Transcriptomics and Metabolomics Revealed LcMYC4 Regulating LcDXS3 to Promote Terpenoid Biosynthesis in Litsea cubeba

Terpenoids are present in many plant species and confer various biological activities. Litsea cubeba, a traditional Chinese medicinal plant, exhibits antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-tumor properties, primarily due to its terpenoid constituents. As important secondary metabolites, terpenoid biosynthesis is often influenced by hormonal treatments; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying hormone-induced terpenoid synthesis remain unclear. This study elucidates the regulatory mechanisms of terpenoid biosynthesis in L. cubeba under jasmonic acid (JA) treatment through comprehensive transcriptome analysis and gene functional characterization. Notably, terpene content in L. cubeba fruit increased substantially within 6 h following JA treatment. Transcriptome analysis revealed that JA signaling and terpenoid biosynthesis genes were significantly upregulated and co-expressed following JA induction. LcMYC4, a core gene in JA signal transduction, exhibited an expression pattern similar to that of LcDXS3, a key enzyme in the terpenoid precursor synthesis pathway. Overexpression of LcMYC4 significantly enhanced terpenoid accumulation in L. cubeba, and this increase in LcMYC4 expression was accompanied by a significant upregulation of LcDXS3 expression. Besides, LcMYC4 directly binds the LcDXS3 promoter and activates its expression. In summary, this study provides insight into the mechanisms of JA-induced terpenoid synthesis in L. cubeba.