Transcriptome Analysis of Marchantin Biosynthesis from the Liverwort Marchantia polymorpha

Marchantin A, the first characterized macrocyclic bis(bibenzyls) found in the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha shows interesting biological activities such as antifungal, antimicrobial, cytotoxic, antioxidant and muscle relaxing activity. Previously, Zenk et al. reported the phenylpropane/polymalonate pathway in the biosynthesis of the marchantins in M. polymorpha. To clear this pathway, transcriptome sequencing and digital gene expression analyses of M. polymorpha were carried out by using Illumina RNA-seq system.