# Metabolome and Transcriptome Profiling of Chicory Roots Provide Insights Into Laticifer Development and Specialized Metabolism

## TL;DR

This study explores chicory root metabolism and gene activity to understand how laticifers develop and produce valuable compounds like inulin and bitter lactones.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into the compartmentalization of chicory root metabolism and laticifer development through combined metabolomic and transcriptomic profiling.

## Key findings

- Sesquiterpene lactones (STLs) mainly accumulate in the latex of chicory roots.
- Jasmonate signaling plays a key role in laticifer development and differentiation.
- Inulin accumulates outside laticifers, with complex trafficking of inulin or its precursors.

## Abstract

Chicory roots produce inulin, a dietary fiber, as well as large quantities of bitter sesquiterpene lactones (STLs), which have valuable biological activities. In an effort to understand the compartmentalization of metabolism within chicory roots and the molecular basis of the development of laticifers that produce the chicory latex, we performed metabolomics and transcriptomics profiling of different tissues of chicory roots. Gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC–MS) identified a total of 21,437 features, of which 135 were differentially abundant between cell types. Further analysis indicated that the major STLs accumulated primarily in the latex. Gene expression of known STL pathway genes indicates a compartmentalization of the biosynthesis across multiple tissues, with implications regarding the trafficking of pathway intermediates. Phytohormone measurements and gene expression analysis point to a major role for jasmonate signaling in the development and differentiation of laticifers. Furthermore, inulin accumulates mostly outside the laticifers, but expression of inulin metabolic genes also points to a complex distribution and trafficking of inulin or inulin precursors across different root compartments. Altogether, the data presented here constitute a unique resource to investigate several biological processes in chicory roots, including laticifer development, STL biosynthesis and transport, and inulin biosynthesis regulation.