Spatiotemporal dynamics of morphology-metabolism interplay in Scutellaria baicalensis hollow root morphogenesis via spatially resolved metabolomics.

BACKGROUND

Understanding the morphogenetic processes and their spatial crosstalk with metabolism is essential for improving the quality of medicinal plants and constructing the regulation of the metabolite network. However, there is a paucity of detailed research on the spatiotemporal dynamics of morphology-metabolism interplay in medicinal plants. The roots of perennial Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (S. baicalensis) have typical morphological characteristics (hollow root) and flavonoid metabolic heterogeneity, but the relationship between them at the spatiotemporal level has not been explored.

METHODS

We present an integration of anatomical analysis, mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) based spatial metabolomics, and molecular biological methods to precisely dissect the spatiotemporal interplay and underlying mechanisms between morphological dynamics and metabolic reprogramming during hollow root development.

RESULTS

Morphological and anatomical features were analyzed to determine the four typical development stage of hollow root, and revealed that they originate from a programmed cell death (PCD) progress. Representative metabolites alterations are imaged at micron-scale spatial level, and morphological, metabolites are connected through colocalized in the heterogeneous root tissues. With the development hollow roots, the expression of root-specific flavonoid glycosides is specificity decreases in the pith, while that of their aglycones increases. Comprehensive analysis further reveals that high expression of beta-glucuronidase (GUS) in hollow root is the key molecular mechanism responsible for the alterations of flavonoids.

CONCLUSION

This study provides a new perspective on a comprehensive understanding of the metabolic dynamics during organogenesis, and provides developmental and mechanistic insights into the pharmaceutical value formation of S. baicalensis hollow roots.