Single-cell analyses identify the ginseng embryonic protoderm as a native compartment for high-efficiency ginsenoside production
Liu J, Zhai N, Zhang S, Tamada Y, Li T, Zhang L, Chen T, Wang C, Yang J, Gao J, Li X, Zhou J, Zhang Y, Liu Y, Wang Y, Friml J, Benková E, Li C, Xu L, Huang L. 2026. Single-cell analyses identify the ginseng embryonic protoderm as a native compartment for high-efficiency ginsenoside production. Nature Communications. 17, 7994.
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Author
Liu, Juan;
Zhai, Ning;
Zhang, Shiyi;
Tamada, Yosuke;
Li, Tonghui;
Zhang, Linfan;
Chen, Tong;
Wang, Chenglin;
Yang, Jian;
Gao, Jiaqi;
Li, XiangISTA;
Zhou, Junhui
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All
Department
Abstract
Ginseng (Panax ginseng) derives its renowned therapeutic properties from ginsenoside metabolites. However, the long cultivation cycle and susceptibility to diseases hinder the advancement of the ginseng industry. Here, we demonstrate that the embryonic protoderm of ginseng can efficiently produce ginsenosides. Single-cell transcriptome and mass spectrometry imaging analyses reveal that ginsenosides accumulate in the protoderm of ginseng embryonic callus (EC) at levels comparable to those in forest ginseng. Epigenetic analyses indicate that elevated histone acetylation and enhanced chromatin accessibility at regeneration- and ginsenoside metabolism-related gene loci are associated with the ginsenoside-producing capacity of EC. Increasing histone acetylation levels or overexpressing the regeneration-related WUSCHEL-RELATED HOMEOBOX11 (WOX11) gene further enhances ginsenoside production in EC. Our findings suggest that the protoderm of EC could serve as an in situ biological compartment for high-efficiency ginsenoside producion, offering a complementary approach to traditional ginseng cultivation.
Publishing Year
Date Published
2026-08-07
Journal Title
Nature Communications
Publisher
Springer Nature
Acknowledgement
The authors are grateful to Professor Linfeng Li from the School of Life Science, Fudan University, for his assistance during the ginseng genome annotation. This work was supported by Key project at central government level: The ability establishment of sustainable use for valuable Chinese medicine resources (2060302-2401-08 to L.X. and J.L.), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (82373987 to J.L., 31701294 to L.X., 32225007 to L.X., and 32300285 to N.Z.), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central public welfare research institutes (ZZ13-YQ-093, ZZXT202508 to J.L.), the CACMS Innovation Fund (CI2025G00-06 to J.L.), the Principle Investigator Program (HBMUPI202104 to Y.Z.), the Key R&D Program of Shandong Province, China (2024LZGC025 to L.X.), the National Key R&D Program of China (2024YFF1000700/2023YFE0101100 to L.X.), Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDB0630000 to L.X.), and China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2023M733490 to N.Z.).
Volume
17
Article Number
7994
eISSN
IST-REx-ID
Cite this
Liu J, Zhai N, Zhang S, et al. Single-cell analyses identify the ginseng embryonic protoderm as a native compartment for high-efficiency ginsenoside production. Nature Communications. 2026;17. doi:10.1038/s41467-026-74881-5
Liu, J., Zhai, N., Zhang, S., Tamada, Y., Li, T., Zhang, L., … Huang, L. (2026). Single-cell analyses identify the ginseng embryonic protoderm as a native compartment for high-efficiency ginsenoside production. Nature Communications. Springer Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-74881-5
Liu, Juan, Ning Zhai, Shiyi Zhang, Yosuke Tamada, Tonghui Li, Linfan Zhang, Tong Chen, et al. “Single-Cell Analyses Identify the Ginseng Embryonic Protoderm as a Native Compartment for High-Efficiency Ginsenoside Production.” Nature Communications. Springer Nature, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-74881-5.
J. Liu et al., “Single-cell analyses identify the ginseng embryonic protoderm as a native compartment for high-efficiency ginsenoside production,” Nature Communications, vol. 17. Springer Nature, 2026.
Liu J, Zhai N, Zhang S, Tamada Y, Li T, Zhang L, Chen T, Wang C, Yang J, Gao J, Li X, Zhou J, Zhang Y, Liu Y, Wang Y, Friml J, Benková E, Li C, Xu L, Huang L. 2026. Single-cell analyses identify the ginseng embryonic protoderm as a native compartment for high-efficiency ginsenoside production. Nature Communications. 17, 7994.
Liu, Juan, et al. “Single-Cell Analyses Identify the Ginseng Embryonic Protoderm as a Native Compartment for High-Efficiency Ginsenoside Production.” Nature Communications, vol. 17, 7994, Springer Nature, 2026, doi:10.1038/s41467-026-74881-5.
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