Transcriptomics and Metabolomics Reveal Mechanisms Underlying the Adaptation of Lamiophlomis rotata to High Altitudes

TL;DR

This study explores how Lamiophlomis rotata adapts to high altitudes using transcriptomics and metabolomics, revealing new insights into its survival mechanisms.

Contribution

The study identifies hydrogen sulfide signaling and amino acid metabolism as key adaptation mechanisms in Lamiophlomis rotata.

Findings

Hydrogen sulfide signaling may regulate cellulose synthase activity and aid in stress adaptation.

Amino acid metabolism supports energy storage and defense signaling in high-altitude adaptation.

The study proposes a link between hydrogen sulfide signaling and amino acid metabolism in alpine plants.

Abstract

Lamiophlomis rotata is a perennial herb belonging to the Lamiaceae family and is widely distributed across the high-altitude regions of the Himalayas and the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. As a traditional alpine medicinal plant, it has been used in ethnomedicine for its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, yet the molecular mechanisms underlying its adaptation to extreme environments have remained poorly understood. To address this gap, the present study employs a multi-omics approach by integrating PacBio full-length transcriptome sequencing, Illumina-based second-generation transcriptome data, and comprehensive metabolome profiling. These findings offer novel insights into alpine plant biology and may inform strategies for improving crop adaptability in changing climates.

Lamiophlomis rotata (Benth.) Kudo is a typical alpine medicinal plant. However, the mechanism underlying its adaptation to high altitudes remains incompletely understood. In this study, we integrated transcriptome and metabolome analyses. Specifically, we used third-generation sequencing for building a reference transcriptome and second-generation sequencing for differential gene expression analysis. Our findings revealed that the activation of the hydrogen sulfide signaling pathway and the reprogramming of amino acid metabolism are probable adaptation mechanisms. Different from previous reports, the hydrogen sulfide signaling may regulate the activity of cellulose synthase in addition to enhancement of antioxidant capacity and accumulation of osmolytes. By altering the agronomic traits of plants in a cell wall remodeling-dependent manner, it enables L. rotata to adapt to alpine stress. The accumulated amino acids not only store energy-efficient organic nitrogen as precursors for the synthesis of secondary metabolites but also act as signaling molecules to activate defense responses. Additionally, we propose a potential link between the hydrogen sulfide signaling pathway and amino acid metabolism. Overall, this study systematically explores the adaptation mechanism of L. rotata to high-altitude environments, offering a novel perspective for understanding the growth, development, stress responses, and secondary metabolic processes of alpine plants.

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