Dynamic Lipidomics\nand Transcriptome Profiling Reveals\nthe Transcriptional Regulatory Mechanism Governing TAGs Formation\nin Seeds of Safflower

Safflower (Carthamus\ntinctorius L.)\nis a valuable oil crop due to its bioactive ingredients and high linoleic\nacid content, which contribute to its antioxidant properties and potential\nfor preventing atherosclerosis. Current research on safflower focuses\non understanding the biosynthesis of seed oil through omics strategies,\nyet there is a lack of comprehensive knowledge of the dynamic changes\nin lipids and the regulatory mechanisms during seed development. Here,\nwe performed combined quantitative lipidomics profiles and transcriptomic\nanalyses to characterize the lipid accumulation patterns of safflower\nseeds, investigate gene networks, and identify vital candidate genes\nand transcription factors (TFs) involved in triacylglycerol (TAGs)\nbiosynthesis in safflower. A total of 417 lipid compounds and their\ncorresponding coexpressed genes were categorized into seven distinct\nlipid metabolite vs gene modules. By integrating bioinformatic analyses,\none TFs-genes transcriptional regulatory network for major lipid compounds\nwas proposed, involving 10 hub transcription factors and 12 structure\ngenes that participate in regulating the accumulation of triacylglycerols\n(TAGs) and fatty acids (FAs). Furthermore, the results of yeast one-hybrid\nassay suggested that <i>CtAP2.1</i> and <i>CtAP2.4</i>, the homologous genes of AINTEGUMENTA-Like 5 and 6 (<i>AIL5</i> and <i>AIL6</i>) in Arabidopsis thaliana, may play important roles in the TAGs biosynthesis in safflower\nseeds. Our findings provide insight into the regulatory network of\nlipid compounds in safflower seeds and offer potential gene resources\nfor enhanced oil content through targeted crop breeding.