# Integrative Transcriptomics Reveals Regulatory Networks Underlying Fatty Acid and Lacquer Wax Formation in Fruit of Toxicodendron vernicifluum

## TL;DR

This study uses transcriptomics to uncover gene networks involved in fatty acid and wax production in the fruit of the lacquer tree.

## Contribution

The study identifies key genes and regulatory networks involved in fatty acid and wax ester synthesis in Toxicodendron vernicifluum.

## Key findings

- Differentially expressed genes were identified across four developmental stages of the lacquer tree fruit.
- Genes like ACC, KAS, KAR, FATB, and FAD were significantly involved in fatty acid synthesis.
- A co-expression network linking wax biosynthesis genes, hormone signaling, and transcription factors was established.

## Abstract

The lacquer tree (Toxicodendron vernicifluum) possesses significant economic value due to its capability to produce raw lacquer, lacquer wax, and lacquer oil. The fruit is the primary source of lacquer wax; the primary components of lacquer wax are fatty acids, yet the synthesis mechanisms of fatty acids and wax esters remain unclear. In this study, we employed RNA-seq to analyze differentially expressed genes (DEGs) across four developmental stages in the fruit of the lacquer tree. The results revealed that, compared to the T1 stage, there were 1736, 10,228, and 12,444 DEGs in the three developmental stages. Through KEGG enrichment analysis, DEGs associated with lacquer wax synthesis were found to be primarily enriched in fatty acid metabolism, degradation, and the biosynthesis of cutin, suberin, and wax esters pathways. Furthermore, analysis of DEGs expression patterns in fatty acid synthesis pathways revealed that ACC, KAS, KAR, FATB, and FAD were significantly differentially expressed. Additionally, LACS, WSD1, CER4, CER1, and MAH1 participated in wax biosynthesis. Moreover, one co-expression network among wax biosynthesis genes, hormone signal transduction genes, and transcription factors was established. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for identifying key genes involved in regulating fatty acid and lacquer wax synthesis in Toxicodendron vernicifluum.