由全国兰科植物种质资源保护中心、深圳市兰科植物保护研究中心刘仲健教授领导的国际科研团队成功绘制出药用铁皮石斛高质量全基因组基因图谱，在药用开发研究方面取得成果，12日《自然》子刊《科学报告》公开刊发这一世界兰科植物基因组学研究的重要成果。 

　　铁皮石斛是兰科植物的重要类群，是国家一级重点保护植物，在我国已有2000多年的药用历史，被誉为中华“九大仙草”之首，它含有多糖、生物碱类等成份，被认为具有极高的药用和科研以及生态价值。 

　　铁皮石斛全基因组测序研究解决了多个重大的科学问题。揭示了其广泛的生态适应性的基因调控机制；揭示了铁皮石斛产生大量的石斛多糖和茎干变得肥大的分子机制，了解产生药用多糖的基因调控机理。为人工合成药用多糖提供分子基础；揭示石斛属植物形态具有高度多样性的分子调控机理。 

　　科学家利用测序的分子数据还开展铁皮石斛的分子育种；建立了保护开发利用的友好型栽培生产模式；制订全国《石斛质量等级标准》；发现了对模型动物具有维持胰岛素平衡，对糖尿眼、肝纤维化等具有明显效果以及具有抗忧郁症，提高免疫力的功能；发现了铁皮石斛小分子化合物对老年痴呆症具有非常显著的治疗效果，为一类新药开发提供了分子基础；利用铁皮石斛有效成分开发出提高记忆力的保健产品。 

　　刘仲健表示，铁皮石斛全基因组图谱的完成不仅解决了兰科植物进化的重大科学问题，还为遗传工程育种和药用成份的开发利用，规范产业发展研究提供重要资源和基础。（来源：科技日报） 

　　The Dendrobium catenatum Lindl. genome sequence provides insights into polysaccharide synthase, floral development and adaptive evolution 

　　Abstract  Orchids make up about 10% of all seed plant species, have great economical value, and are of specific scientific interest because of their renowned flowers and ecological adaptations. Here, we report the first draft genome sequence of a lithophytic orchid, Dendrobium catenatum. We predict 28,910 protein-coding genes, and find evidence of a whole genome duplication shared with Phalaenopsis. We observed the expansion of many resistance-related genes, suggesting a powerful immune system responsible for adaptation to a wide range of ecological niches. We also discovered extensive duplication of genes involved in glucomannan synthase activities, likely related to the synthesis of medicinal polysaccharides. Expansion of MADS-box gene clades ANR1, StMADS11, and MIKC*, involved in the regulation of development and growth, suggests that these expansions are associated with the astonishing diversity of plant architecture in the genus Dendrobium. On the contrary, members of the type I MADS box gene family are missing, which might explain the loss of the endospermous seed. The findings reported here will be important for future studies into polysaccharide synthesis, adaptations to diverse environments and flower architecture of Orchidaceae. 

　　原文链接：http://www.nature.com/articles/srep19029