EN
Medicinal Salvia miltiorrhiza is renowned for its curative effects on cardiovascular diseases. Its biologically active ingredients include rosmarinic acid (RA) and its derivative, salvianolic acid B (SAB). We used available bioinformatics tools to improve our knowledge about the biosynthesis of these phenolic compounds. Our comprehensive description of cis-acting regulatory elements in the RA pathway provides insights into the potential transcriptional regulation of that pathway. For example, a lightresponsive element was the most abundant and widespread motif, suggesting that light is a universal regulatory factor of RA synthesis in S. miltiorrhiza. Therefore, we examined gene transcripts and the accumulation of hydrophilic pharmacological compounds in light-treated plants. Canonical correlation analysis was also used to construct a gene-tometabolite network. We obtained a high correlation coefficient (0.986), which generally indicated a clear and close relationship between RA-biosynthetic genes and desirable metabolites. We also screened PAL1, C4H, and HPPR, genes directly linked to the accumulation of RA and SAB. Our results can serve as the basis for better understanding RA synthesis in S. miltiorrhiza, and they will increase the practical potential for metabolic engineering of this important medicinal species.