MGWAS (Metabolome Genome Wide Association Study) refers to whole genome association analysis based on metabolomics, which is a method of analyzing the association between metabolome data as phenotype and genotype data. Due to the finer phenotype identification of metabolomic data, the accuracy of association analysis is higher than traditional GWAS analysis.

Professor Roger's team from Hainan University and Huazhong Agricultural UniversityThe field of mGWAS has made significant achievements, with over 10 related studies published in high scoring journals in recent years.

On December 7, 2020, the journal Nature Plants published a new article by Professor Roger's team titled "Selection of a species-specific diterpene gene cluster affecting rice disease resistance" online. This study provides a deep analysis of gene clusters related to the synthesis pathway of diterpenes in rice. Diterpenes are one of the main types of plant antibiotics in rice. In this study, a gene encoding the entire biosynthetic pathway of 5,10-diketone ricinoliene (a member of monocyclic ricinoliene derivatives) was identified on chromosome 7 (DGC7)Cluster.

The article adopts metabolomics detection technology——Widely targeted metabolomics detection technology, achieving high-throughput, high-sensitivity, wide coverage, and undifferentiated detection1000 metabolites to assist in metabolomics and multi omics research.

Identification of diterpenoid gene clusters in rice

This study used an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography triple quadrupole mass spectrometerLCMS-8060， Metabolomic analysis was performed on tobacco leaves infected or uninfected with corresponding candidate substances. 10 ketoricinoliene and 5,10 diketone ricinoliene control samples were purified from rice leaves.

Mass spectrum of 5,10-diketone ricinoliene

imageA is the product of simultaneous overexpression of OsTPS28, OsCYP71Z2, and OsCYP71Z21 in the leaves of Nicotiana benthamiana

imageB is the standard substance of 5,10-diketone ricinoliene

The tandem mass spectrometer used in this articleLCMS-8060 and GCMS-TQ8040 (photographed at the Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University)