The whole-genome map of Astragalus mongholicus provides ideas for the synthesis of glutathione and flavonoid.

BACKGROUND: The legume Astragalus mongholicus (A. mongholicus) has a wide variety of medicinal properties. Based on the genome of A. mongholicus, this study intended to investigate the phylogenetic position of A. mongholicus and excavate the specific genes of A. mongholicus. RESULTS: In this study, we used Oxford Nanopore technology to assemble and annotate a high-quality chromosomal-scale A. mongholicus genome. Its total size was 1.60 Gb, containing eight chromosomes. Phylogenetic and comparative genomic analyses on A. mongholicus indicating that A. mongholicus and other legumes were involved in the WGD event of Papilionaceae evolvement. We identified that 33 genes were significantly associated with GST enzymes in the glutathione pathway in A. mongholicus. Moreover, 23 genes were significantly associated with UDP-glucosyltransferase family protein, cyanidin3-O-galactoside 2''-O-xylosyltransferase FGGT1, caffeoyl-coa-o-methyltransferase, phenylcoumaran benzylic ether reductase POP1 enzymes in flavonoid biosynthesis (isoflavones, flavonols and flavonoids), which promoted the synthesis of a series of flavonoids in A. mongholicus. The functional versatility of glucosyltransferase synthesis genes may play a key role in the diversity of flavonoid-related biosynthesis. CONCLUSION: This study provides a valuable model genome for genetic and applied research on A. mongholicus.