Multi-omics analysis of the mechanisms of abundant theacrine and EGCG3"Me in tea (Camellia sinensis)

Abstract Theacrine and epigallocatechin-3-O-(3-O-methyl) gallate (EGCG3"Me) are notable secondary metabolites in tea (Camellia sinensis), celebrated for their unique flavors and significant health effects. Theacrine has a mild effect on nerve stimulation, while EGCG3"Me exhibits better sta...

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Main Authors: Yanyu Zhu, Mengya Gu, Wentao Yu, Longhua Liao, Shuilian Gao, Shuyan Wang, Hongzheng Lin, Wenjing Gui, Youliang Zhou, Zhiming Chen, Jingde Zeng, Naixing Ye
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:BMC Plant Biology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06691-8
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author Yanyu Zhu
Mengya Gu
Wentao Yu
Longhua Liao
Shuilian Gao
Shuyan Wang
Hongzheng Lin
Wenjing Gui
Youliang Zhou
Zhiming Chen
Jingde Zeng
Naixing Ye
author_facet Yanyu Zhu
Mengya Gu
Wentao Yu
Longhua Liao
Shuilian Gao
Shuyan Wang
Hongzheng Lin
Wenjing Gui
Youliang Zhou
Zhiming Chen
Jingde Zeng
Naixing Ye
author_sort Yanyu Zhu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Theacrine and epigallocatechin-3-O-(3-O-methyl) gallate (EGCG3"Me) are notable secondary metabolites in tea (Camellia sinensis), celebrated for their unique flavors and significant health effects. Theacrine has a mild effect on nerve stimulation, while EGCG3"Me exhibits better stability, higher oral bioavailability and stronger biological activity. However, tea plant varieties naturally rich in both theacrine and EGCG3"Me are rare. This study unveils a unique tea variety ‘Anxi kucha’, which is abundant in both theacrine and EGCG3"Me. Through integrated transcriptome-proteome-metabolome analysis, SAMS3, APRT1, IMPDH, and TCS1 were identified as critical enzymes for theacrine synthesis; while CHI1, CHI2, FLS2 and LAR1 were key for EGCG3"Me synthesis. Additionally, transcription factor analysis revealed that MYB4 and bHLH74 were positively correlated with the contents of theacrine and EGCG3"Me. This study provides valuable materials for further exploring theacrine and EGCG3"Me in tea plants, and establishes a theoretical basis for their biosynthesis.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1471-2229
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher BMC
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series BMC Plant Biology
spelling doaj-art-a20879c84f6e49c1bbbedc51ca19e9832025-08-20T03:48:15ZengBMCBMC Plant Biology1471-22292025-05-0125111610.1186/s12870-025-06691-8Multi-omics analysis of the mechanisms of abundant theacrine and EGCG3"Me in tea (Camellia sinensis)Yanyu Zhu0Mengya Gu1Wentao Yu2Longhua Liao3Shuilian Gao4Shuyan Wang5Hongzheng Lin6Wenjing Gui7Youliang Zhou8Zhiming Chen9Jingde Zeng10Naixing Ye11College of Horticulture-Key Laboratory of Tea Science at Universities in Fujian, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry UniversityCollege of Horticulture-Key Laboratory of Tea Science at Universities in Fujian, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry UniversityFujian Key Laboratory for Technology Research of Inspection and Quarantine, Technology Center of Fuzhou Customs District PR ChinaFujian Yongganhua Tea Industry Co., LtdCollege of Horticulture-Key Laboratory of Tea Science at Universities in Fujian, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry UniversityCollege of Horticulture-Key Laboratory of Tea Science at Universities in Fujian, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry UniversityCollege of Horticulture-Key Laboratory of Tea Science at Universities in Fujian, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry UniversityCollege of Horticulture-Key Laboratory of Tea Science at Universities in Fujian, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry UniversityFujian Guoxin Green Valley Agricultural Development Co., LtdAnxi Tea Industry Development CenterAnxi Tea Industry Development CenterCollege of Horticulture-Key Laboratory of Tea Science at Universities in Fujian, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry UniversityAbstract Theacrine and epigallocatechin-3-O-(3-O-methyl) gallate (EGCG3"Me) are notable secondary metabolites in tea (Camellia sinensis), celebrated for their unique flavors and significant health effects. Theacrine has a mild effect on nerve stimulation, while EGCG3"Me exhibits better stability, higher oral bioavailability and stronger biological activity. However, tea plant varieties naturally rich in both theacrine and EGCG3"Me are rare. This study unveils a unique tea variety ‘Anxi kucha’, which is abundant in both theacrine and EGCG3"Me. Through integrated transcriptome-proteome-metabolome analysis, SAMS3, APRT1, IMPDH, and TCS1 were identified as critical enzymes for theacrine synthesis; while CHI1, CHI2, FLS2 and LAR1 were key for EGCG3"Me synthesis. Additionally, transcription factor analysis revealed that MYB4 and bHLH74 were positively correlated with the contents of theacrine and EGCG3"Me. This study provides valuable materials for further exploring theacrine and EGCG3"Me in tea plants, and establishes a theoretical basis for their biosynthesis.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06691-8Camellia sinensisTheacrineepigallocatechin-3-O-(3-O-methyl) gallateAnxi KuchaMetabolic pathwaysProteomics; transcriptomics
spellingShingle Yanyu Zhu
Mengya Gu
Wentao Yu
Longhua Liao
Shuilian Gao
Shuyan Wang
Hongzheng Lin
Wenjing Gui
Youliang Zhou
Zhiming Chen
Jingde Zeng
Naixing Ye
Multi-omics analysis of the mechanisms of abundant theacrine and EGCG3"Me in tea (Camellia sinensis)
BMC Plant Biology
Camellia sinensis
Theacrine
epigallocatechin-3-O-(3-O-methyl) gallate
Anxi Kucha
Metabolic pathways
Proteomics; transcriptomics
title Multi-omics analysis of the mechanisms of abundant theacrine and EGCG3"Me in tea (Camellia sinensis)
title_full Multi-omics analysis of the mechanisms of abundant theacrine and EGCG3"Me in tea (Camellia sinensis)
title_fullStr Multi-omics analysis of the mechanisms of abundant theacrine and EGCG3"Me in tea (Camellia sinensis)
title_full_unstemmed Multi-omics analysis of the mechanisms of abundant theacrine and EGCG3"Me in tea (Camellia sinensis)
title_short Multi-omics analysis of the mechanisms of abundant theacrine and EGCG3"Me in tea (Camellia sinensis)
title_sort multi omics analysis of the mechanisms of abundant theacrine and egcg3 me in tea camellia sinensis
topic Camellia sinensis
Theacrine
epigallocatechin-3-O-(3-O-methyl) gallate
Anxi Kucha
Metabolic pathways
Proteomics; transcriptomics
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06691-8
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