Nicotine is a stimulant and potent parasympathomimetic alkaloid that accounts for 96–98% of alkaloid content. A reduction in the amount of nicotine in cigarettes to achieve a non-addictive level is necessary. We investigated whether replacing tobacco root with eggplant by grafting can restrict nicotine biosynthesis and produce tobacco leaves with ultra-low nicotine content, and analyzed the gene expression differences induced by eggplant grafting. The nicotine levels of grafted tobacco leaves decreased dramatically. The contents of nornicotine, anabasine, NNN, NNK, NAT, total TSNAs and the nicotine of mainstream cigarette smoke decreased, and the contents of amino acids and the precursors of alkaloids increased in grafted tobacco. Eggplant grafting resulted in the differential expression of 440 genes. LOC107774053 had higher degrees in two PPI networks, which were regulated by LOC107802531 and LOC107828746 in the TF-target network. Replacing tobacco root with eggplant by grafting can restrict nicotine biosynthesis and produce tobacco leaves with ultra-low or zero nicotine content. The differential expression of LOC107774053 may be associated with eggplant grafting.

中文翻译：

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通过茄子嫁接降低烟草尼古丁含量。


尼古丁是一种强效拟副交感神经兴奋剂生物碱，占生物碱含量的 96-98%。有必要减少香烟中的尼古丁含量以达到不成瘾的水平。我们研究了通过嫁接的方式用茄子代替烟根是否可以限制烟碱的生物合成并生产出超低烟碱含量的烟叶，并分析茄子嫁接引起的基因表达差异。嫁接烟叶的尼古丁含量显着下降。嫁接烟叶中降烟碱、新木碱、NNN、NNK、NAT、总TSNA和主流烟气烟碱含量降低，氨基酸和生物碱前体含量升高。茄子嫁接导致440个基因差异表达。 LOC107774053在两个PPI网络中具有较高的度数，这两个网络在TF-target网络中受到LOC107802531和LOC107828746的调节。通过嫁接的方式用茄子代替烟根，可以限制尼古丁的生物合成，生产出超低或零尼古丁含量的烟叶。 LOC107774053的差异表达可能与茄子嫁接有关。