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Sains Malaysiana 55(10)(2026): 1653-1663
http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2026-5510-05
Molecular Insights into Genes and Pathways Involved in the Interaction between Rafflesia cantleyi and
Its Host Tetrastigma rafflesiae Shown by Dual RNA
Sequencing
ANWARALI-KHAN MURSYIDAH1,
MOHD-NOOR MAT-ISA1,2, NOR AZLAN NOR MUHAMMAD3, MOHD
FIRDAUS-RAIH2,3,4 & KIEW-LIAN WAN1,2,*
1Department
of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology,
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
2Malaysia
Genome and Vaccine Institute, National Institutes of Biotechnology Malaysia, Jalan
Bangi, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia
3Institute of
Systems Biology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor,
Malaysia
4Department of
Applied Physics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan
Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
Diserahkan: 20 Februari 2026/Diterima:
18 September 2026
*Pengarang untuk surat-menyurat; email:
klwan@ukm.edu.my
Abstract
Rafflesia is an obligate holoparasitic plant that depends entirely on its host, Tetrastigma, for survival. Understanding the
molecular interaction between these species is essential for elucidating holoparasitism and supporting conservation strategies. In this
study, dual RNA sequencing was performed to characterise the concurrent transcriptomic responses of Rafflesia cantleyi and Tetrastigma rafflesiae at their interface during floral bud development. Illumina sequencing generated
152.45 million raw reads. Following pre-processing, 24% of the reads were
mapped to the T. rafflesiae genome, while the
remaining reads were inferred to originate from R. cantleyi. De novo assembly produced 35 255 transcripts for R. cantleyi and 15 897 transcripts for T. rafflesiae. In R. cantleyi,
candidate transcripts associated with parasite-host interaction included those encoding
ABC transporters, retroelement-associated proteins, aminopeptidase M1,
receptor-like kinases, resistance proteins and auxin response factor 19,
suggesting involvement in transmembrane transport, genome plasticity, proteostasis, defence-related signalling and hormonal
regulation. In T. rafflesiae, candidate transcripts
associated with parasite-host interaction included those encoding receptor-like
kinases, transcription factors and dephospho-CoA
kinase, indicating host responses related to perception, signal transduction
and metabolic adjustment. Enzyme class profiling and KEGG Orthology and pathway mapping further identified functional pathways associated with
transport, signalling, proteostasis, and the plant-pathogen
interaction pathway. These findings provide molecular insights into the Rafflesia-Tetrastigma interaction at the
interface and establish a basis for future functional and conservation-oriented
studies.
Keywords: Dual RNA sequencing; holoparasite;
host plant; parasite-host interaction; transcriptomics
Abstrak
Rafflesia ialah tumbuhan holoparasit obligat yang bergantung sepenuhnya kepada perumahnya, Tetrastigma, untuk kelangsungan hidup. Pemahaman mengenai interaksi molekul antara kedua-dua spesies ini adalah penting bagi menghuraikan mekanisme holoparasitisme serta menyokong strategi pemuliharaan. Dalam kajian ini, penjujukan dwi RNA telah dijalankan untuk mencirikan tindak balas transkriptomik serentak Rafflesia cantleyi dan Tetrastigma rafflesiae pada kawasan antara muka semasa perkembangan kudup
bunga. Penjujukan menggunakan pelantar Illumina menghasilkan 152.45 juta bacaan
mentah. Selepas pra-pemprosesan, sebanyak 24% daripada bacaan dipetakan kepada
genom T. rafflesiae, manakala selebihnya dianggap merupakan bacaan R.
cantleyi. Penghimpunan secara de novo menghasilkan 35 255 transkrip
bagi R. cantleyi dan 15 897 transkrip bagi T. rafflesiae. Dalam R.
cantleyi, calon transkrip yang dikaitkan dengan interaksi parasit-perumah termasuk
yang mengekod pengangkut ABC, protein berkaitan retroelemen, aminopeptidase M1,
kinase mirip reseptor, protein rintangan dan faktor tindak balas auksin 19,
mencadangkan peranan dalam pengangkutan merentas membran, keplastikan genom,
proteostasis, pengisyaratan berkaitan pertahanan dan pengawal aturan hormon.
Dalam T.
rafflesiae, calon transkrip yang dikaitkan dengan interaksi
parasit-perumah termasuk yang mengekod kinase mirip reseptor, faktor
transkripsi dan kinase defosfo-KoA, menunjukkan tindak balas perumah melibatkan
persepsi, transduksi isyarat dan pelarasan metabolik. Pemprofilan kelas enzim dan
pemetaan Ortologi KEGG serta laluan KEGG selanjutnya mengenal pasti laluan
fungsian yang berkaitan dengan pengangkutan, pengisyaratan, proteostasis dan laluan
interaksi tumbuhan-patogen. Penemuan ini memberikan
pandangan molekul terhadap interaksi Rafflesia-Tetrastigma pada
kawasan antara muka serta mewujudkan asas untuk kajian fungsian dan berorientasikan
pemuliharaan pada masa hadapan.
Kata
kunci: Holoparasit; interaksi perumah-parasit; penjujukan dwi RNA;
transkriptomik; tumbuhan perumah
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