Andrographolide, produced by Andrographis paniculata, is a popular “naturale antibiotics” with strong anti-inflammatory and antiviral biological activities. Knowledge of its biosynthesis has rapidly advanced since the genome sequence of Andrographis paniculata was released. However, the transcription factors (TFs) involved in andrographolide biosynthesis have rarely been investigated. Here, a genome-wide analysis of the APETALA2 (AP2)/ ethylene-responsive factor (ERF) transcription factor (TF) gene family of Andrographis paniculata was performed, including phylogenic analysis, chromosomal distribution, gene structure, conserved motifs, synteny analysis, alternative splicing events, Gene Ontology annotation, miRNA target prediction and differential gene expression analysis. In total, 111 APETALA2 (AP2)/ethylene-responsive factor (ERF) genes were identified, and phylogenetically classified into four subfamilies: APETALA2 (24 genes), Dehydration-Responsive Element Binding Proteins (34 genes), Ethylene-Responsive Factor (51 genes), and Related to ABI3/VP1 (2 genes). Genes associated with andrographolide biosynthesis were then screened according to RNA-seq data. Based on the quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) detection, coexpression analysis and binding site prediction, five AP2/ERF transcription factors were proposed to regulate andrographolide biosynthesis. These candidates belong to the Ethylene-Responsive Factor-B3 subgroup, sharing a high sequence similarity with the functional transcription factors (TFs) from other plant species. These results will be useful for the functional characterization of AP2/ERF genes in Andrographis paniculata and lay the foundation to increase andrographolide production via manipulation of the regulatory elements.

由穿心莲（Andrographis paniculata）生产的穿心莲内酯是一种流行的“天然抗生素”，具有强大的抗炎和抗病毒生物学活性。自从穿心莲的基因组序列发布以来，有关其生物合成的知识已迅速发展。但是，与穿心莲内酯生物合成有关的转录因子（TFs）很少被研究。在这里，对穿心莲穿心莲的APETALA2（AP2）/乙烯反应因子（ERF）转录因子（TF）基因家族进行全基因组分析进行了系统发育分析，染色体分布，基因结构，保守基序，同义分析，可变剪接事件，基因本体注释，miRNA目标预测和差异基因表达分析。总共鉴定出111个APETALA2（AP2）/乙烯反应因子（ERF）基因，并在系统发育上分为四个亚科：APETALA2（24个基因），脱水反应元件结合蛋白（34个基因），乙烯反应因子（51个）基因），并且与ABI3 / VP1相关（2个基因）。然后根据RNA-seq数据筛选与穿心莲内酯生物合成相关的基因。基于实时定量PCR（qRT-PCR）检测，共表达分析和结合位点预测，提出了5种AP2 / ERF转录因子来调节穿心莲内酯的生物合成。这些候选物属于乙烯反应因子B3亚组，与其他植物物种的功能转录因子（TFs）具有高度的序列相似性。这些结果对于AP2 / ERF基因的功能鉴定很有帮助。穿心莲为穿心莲内酯通过调控元素的生产奠定了基础。