{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,23]],"date-time":"2026-10-23T19:45:05Z","timestamp":1792784705250,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":41,"publisher":"American Chemical Society (ACS)","issue":"36","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,3]],"date-time":"2026-09-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1788393600000},"content-version":"stm-asf","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.15223\/policy-029"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,3]],"date-time":"2026-09-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1788393600000},"content-version":"stm-asf","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.15223\/policy-037"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,3]],"date-time":"2026-09-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1788393600000},"content-version":"stm-asf","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.15223\/policy-045"}],"funder":[{"name":"Key research and development plan in Shaanxi Province","award":["2025SF-YBXM-127"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2025SF-YBXM-127"]}]},{"name":"Doctoral Science Foundation of Xinjiang Second Medical College","award":["XGYK2025-103"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["XGYK2025-103"]}],"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/005vn6s32","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"crossref"}]},{"name":"Xinjiang safflower industry development fund"},{"name":"key project at central government level","award":["2060302"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2060302"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,16]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>Sour jujube (Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa) is a valuable medicinal and edible fruit owing to its health-promoting properties. Methoxylated flavonoids enhance their value by improving stability and bioavailability. However, the cellular basis of their biosynthesis remains unclear. We constructed a single-nucleus transcriptomic atlas of sour jujube fruit. Parenchyma cells were identified as the primary sites for flavonoid biosynthesis and their O-methylation, characterized by high expression of phenylpropanoid pathway genes and O-methyltransferases (OMTs). Among the 48 identified OMTs, four (ZjOMT1\u20134) exhibited high expression, phylogenetically clustered with known functional OMTs, and localized to the cytoplasm; they were further characterized by enzyme activity assays. Notably, ZjOMT1 demonstrates moderate substrate promiscuity, catalyzing the methylation of various substrates, including quercetin, quercitrin, and rutin. Our findings reveal the cellular architecture of flavonoid metabolism in sour jujube fruit, providing genetic resources for breeding varieties with enhanced flavonoid profiles to develop functional foods and nutraceuticals.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1021\/acs.jafc.6c04251","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,3]],"date-time":"2026-09-03T20:18:51Z","timestamp":1788466731000},"page":"28854-28865","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Single-Cell Transcriptomic\nProfiling of the\n                    <i>O<\/i>\n                    -Methyltransferase Characteristics\nof Flavonoid\nBiosynthesis in\n                    <i>Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa<\/i>\n                    Fruit"],"prefix":"10.1021","volume":"74","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0003-5707-7404","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Guolong","family":"Li","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Xinjiang Second Medical College , , ,","place":["Karamay, China, 83400"]},{"name":"Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine , , ,","place":["Xianyang, China, 712083"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Honghong","family":"Jiao","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine , , ,","place":["Xianyang, China, 712083"]},{"name":"State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs , ,","place":["Beijing, China, 100800"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Wanli","family":"Zhao","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences , , ,","place":["Nanjing, China, 210014"]},{"name":"Institute for Safflower Industry Research of Shihezi University, Pharmacy College of Shihezi University , , ,","place":["Shihezi, China, 832003"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Xinbo","family":"Shi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine , , ,","place":["Xianyang, China, 712083"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"316","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,3]]},"reference":[{"key":"2026091609083330200_cit1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"96","DOI":"10.30621\/jbachs.2019.555","article-title":"Flavonoids in our foods: A short\nreview","volume":"3","author":"Guven","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Basic Clin. Health Sci."},{"issue":"7","key":"2026091609083330200_cit2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2158","DOI":"10.1111\/pce.14323","article-title":"Unravelling the consecutive glycosylation\nand methylation of flavonols in peach in response to UV-B irradiation","volume":"45","author":"Xie","year":"2022","journal-title":"Plant, Cell Environ."},{"key":"2026091609083330200_cit3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"93","DOI":"10.3390\/medicines5030093","article-title":"Flavonoids\nand Other Phenolic Compounds from Medicinal Plants for Pharmaceutical\nand Medical Aspects: An Overview","volume":"5","author":"Tungmunnithum","year":"2018","journal-title":"Medicines"},{"key":"2026091609083330200_cit4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/jfbc.14263","article-title":"Mulberry plant as\na source of functional food with therapeutic and nutritional applications:\nA review","volume":"46","author":"Maqsood","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Food Biochem."},{"key":"2026091609083330200_cit5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"144306","DOI":"10.1016\/j.foodchem.2025.144306","article-title":"Postharvest UV-B and\nUV-C treatments combined with fermentation enhance the quality characteristics\nof Capparis spinosa L. fruit, improving total phenols,\nflavonoids, anthocyanins, phenolic acids, and antioxidant activity","volume":"483","author":"Babaei-Rad","year":"2025","journal-title":"Food Chem."},{"issue":"21","key":"2026091609083330200_cit6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"16195","DOI":"10.1021\/acs.jafc.5c16962","article-title":"Silencing\nof MeCOMT8a\/b Enhances Adventitious\nRoot Development and Drought Tolerance in Cassava by Modulating O-Methylated\nFlavonoid Metabolism","volume":"74","author":"Cai","year":"2026","journal-title":"J. Agric. Food Chem."},{"key":"2026091609083330200_cit7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"43","DOI":"10.3390\/molecules28010043","article-title":"Functional Diversification\nand Structural Origins of Plant Natural\nProduct Methyltransferases","volume":"28","author":"Lashley","year":"2023","journal-title":"Molecules"},{"issue":"22","key":"2026091609083330200_cit8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"13594","DOI":"10.1021\/acs.jafc.5c02429","article-title":"Tailoring\nthe Regioselectivity of Lentinula edodesO-Methyltransferases for Precise\nO-Methylation of Flavonoids","volume":"73","author":"Kanter","year":"2025","journal-title":"J. Agric. Food\nChem."},{"key":"2026091609083330200_cit9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"5075","DOI":"10.1038\/s41467-023-40868-9","article-title":"Characterization of\ntwo O-methyltransferases involved\nin the biosynthesis of O-methylated catechins in tea plant","volume":"14","author":"Jin","year":"2023","journal-title":"Nat. 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Chem."},{"key":"2026091609083330200_cit12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"114745","DOI":"10.1016\/j.foodres.2024.114745","article-title":"Effect of different\nextraction methods on the lipid composition and\nantioxidant activity of Ziziphi spinosae semens oil","volume":"192","author":"Li","year":"2024","journal-title":"Food Res. Int."},{"issue":"5","key":"2026091609083330200_cit13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"503","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jfutfo.2024.08.008","article-title":"Exploring\nthe active components and mechanism of Ziziphi Spinosae Semen in treating\ninsomnia by network pharmacology and metabonomics","volume":"5","author":"Yu","year":"2025","journal-title":"J. Future Foods"},{"key":"2026091609083330200_cit14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3351","DOI":"10.1021\/jf4007032","article-title":"The jujube\n(Ziziphus jujuba Mill.)\nfruit: a review of current knowledge of fruit composition and health\nbenefits","volume":"61","author":"Gao","year":"2013","journal-title":"J. Agric. Food Chem."},{"key":"2026091609083330200_cit15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"7871","DOI":"10.1021\/acs.jafc.2c01905","article-title":"Wild Jujube\n(Ziziphus\njujuba var. spinosa): A Review of Its Phytonutrients, Health Benefits,\nMetabolism, and Applications","volume":"70","author":"Hua","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Agric. Food\nChem."},{"key":"2026091609083330200_cit16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"116204","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jep.2023.116204","article-title":"Research progress\nof quality control for the seed of Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa (Bunge)\nHu ex H.F. Chow (Suan-Zao-Ren) and its proprietary Chinese medicines","volume":"307","author":"Gong","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Ethnopharmacol."},{"issue":"2","key":"2026091609083330200_cit17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2881","DOI":"10.1080\/10942912.2023.2262778","article-title":"Comparative analysis\nof composition and content of flavonoid metabolites in different tissues\nof Chinese jujube and sour jujube based on UPLC-ESI MS\/MS metabolomics","volume":"26","author":"Qiu","year":"2023","journal-title":"Int. J. Food Prop."},{"key":"2026091609083330200_cit18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"112685","DOI":"10.1016\/j.postharvbio.2023.112685","article-title":"Integrated transcriptomic\nand metabolomic analysis\nreveal the molecular and metabolic basis of flavonoids in Chinese\nsour jujube fruits in different harvest times","volume":"209","author":"Li","year":"2024","journal-title":"Postharvest Biol. Technol."},{"key":"2026091609083330200_cit19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"120852","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jep.2025.120852","article-title":"Ziziphi Spinosae Semen: A comprehensive review on quality marker\nprediction based on ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, and pharmacology","volume":"356","author":"Zhou","year":"2026","journal-title":"J. Ethnopharmacol."},{"key":"2026091609083330200_cit20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3333","DOI":"10.1111\/pbi.70155","article-title":"A model for the adaptation of Euryale ferox leaves\nto aquatic environments through EfCGT1-controlled flavonoid C-glycoside-specific\naccumulation in epidermis cells","volume":"23","author":"Liu","year":"2025","journal-title":"Plant. Biotechnol.\nJ."},{"issue":"18","key":"2026091609083330200_cit21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"10764","DOI":"10.1021\/acs.jafc.4c12749","article-title":"Single-Cell Transcriptome\nReveals the Cellular Response to PEG-Induced Stress in Wheat Leaves","volume":"73","author":"Guo","year":"2025","journal-title":"J. Agric. Food Chem."},{"key":"2026091609083330200_cit22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2997","DOI":"10.1111\/pbi.70094","article-title":"Resolving floral development dynamics\nusing genome and single-cell\ntemporal transcriptome of Dendrobium devonianum","volume":"23","author":"Wang","year":"2025","journal-title":"Plant. Biotechnol. J."},{"key":"2026091609083330200_cit23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"417","DOI":"10.1111\/pbi.13763","article-title":"Single-cell RNA sequencing\nprofiles of stem-differentiating xylem in poplar","volume":"20","author":"Xie","year":"2022","journal-title":"Plant. Biotechnol. J."},{"key":"2026091609083330200_cit24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"66","DOI":"10.1186\/s13059-021-02288-0","article-title":"FlsnRNA-seq: protoplasting-free full-length single-nucleus\nRNA profiling in plants","volume":"22","author":"Long","year":"2021","journal-title":"Genome Biol."},{"key":"2026091609083330200_cit25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"115","DOI":"10.1016\/j.molp.2020.10.012","article-title":"Single-Cell Transcriptome\nAnalysis\nin Plants: Advances and Challenges","volume":"14","author":"Shaw","year":"2021","journal-title":"Mol. Plant."},{"key":"2026091609083330200_cit26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"847","DOI":"10.1146\/annurev-arplant-081720-010120","article-title":"Advances and\nOpportunities in Single-Cell\nTranscriptomics for Plant Research","volume":"72","author":"Seyfferth","year":"2021","journal-title":"Annu. Rev.\nPlant Biol."},{"key":"2026091609083330200_cit27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0251149","article-title":"A robust method of nuclei isolation for single-cell RNA sequencing\nof solid tissues from the plant genus Populus","volume":"16","author":"Conde","year":"2021","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"2026091609083330200_cit28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"859","DOI":"10.1111\/tpj.15458","article-title":"Single-nucleus\nRNA\nsequencing of plant tissues using a nanowell-based system","volume":"108","author":"Sunaga-Franze","year":"2021","journal-title":"Plant J."},{"key":"2026091609083330200_cit29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2466","DOI":"10.3390\/plants12132466","article-title":"Development of High-Quality\nNuclei Isolation to Study Plant Root-Microbe Interaction for Single-Nuclei\nTranscriptomic Sequencing in Soybean","volume":"12","author":"D\u2019Agostino","year":"2023","journal-title":"Plants"},{"key":"2026091609083330200_cit30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"648","DOI":"10.1016\/j.molp.2019.04.004","article-title":"A Single-Cell RNA\nSequencing Profiles the Developmental Landscape of Arabidopsis Root","volume":"12","author":"Zhang","year":"2019","journal-title":"Mol. Plant."},{"key":"2026091609083330200_cit31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"773090","DOI":"10.3389\/fpls.2021.773090","article-title":"Chromosome-Scale\nGenome Assembly for Chinese Sour Jujube and Insights Into Its Genome\nEvolution and Domestication Signature","volume":"12","author":"Shen","year":"2021","journal-title":"Front.\nPlant Sci."},{"key":"2026091609083330200_cit32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"543","DOI":"10.1016\/j.devcel.2022.01.008","article-title":"A single-cell\nArabidopsis root atlas reveals developmental trajectories in wild-type\nand cell identity mutants","volume":"57","author":"Shahan","year":"2022","journal-title":"Dev. Cell."},{"key":"2026091609083330200_cit33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"993","DOI":"10.1105\/tpc.18.00785","article-title":"Dynamics\nof Gene Expression in Single Root Cells of Arabidopsis thaliana","volume":"31","author":"Jean-Baptiste","year":"2019","journal-title":"Plant Cell."},{"key":"2026091609083330200_cit34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3021","DOI":"10.2169\/internalmedicine.5359-20","article-title":"Anti-LGI1\nEncephalitis Developing\nImmunoglobulin Responsive Orthostatic Hypotension after Remission","volume":"60","author":"Orimo","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int. Med."},{"key":"2026091609083330200_cit35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1126\/science.aay4970","article-title":"Vascular transcription factors guide plant\nepidermal responses to limiting phosphate conditions","volume":"370","author":"Wendrich","year":"2020","journal-title":"Science"},{"key":"2026091609083330200_cit36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1744","DOI":"10.1093\/ntr\/ntab088","article-title":"The Illegal Experimental Tobacco\nMarketplace I: Effects of Vaping Product Bans","volume":"23","author":"Freitas-Lemos","year":"2021","journal-title":"Nicotine Tob. Res."},{"key":"2026091609083330200_cit37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"301","DOI":"10.1186\/s12864-015-1504-6","article-title":"Global scale transcriptome analysis of Arabidopsis\nembryogenesis in vitro","volume":"16","author":"Wickramasuriya","year":"2015","journal-title":"BMC Genomics"},{"key":"2026091609083330200_cit38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1023","DOI":"10.1007\/s12010-020-03463-y","article-title":"Genome-Wide\nAnalysis\nof Heat Shock Transcription Factors in Ziziphus jujuba Identifies\nPotential Candidates for Crop Improvement Under Abiotic Stress","volume":"193","author":"Panzade","year":"2021","journal-title":"Appl. Biochem. Biotechnol."},{"key":"2026091609083330200_cit39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"100979","DOI":"10.1016\/j.xplc.2024.100979","article-title":"Single-nucleus RNA and ATAC sequencing\nanalyses provide molecular\ninsights into early pod development of peanut fruit","volume":"5","author":"Cui","year":"2024","journal-title":"Plant Commun."},{"key":"2026091609083330200_cit40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1073\/pnas.2321615121","article-title":"Neofunctionalization of an OMT cluster dominates polymethoxyflavone\nbiosynthesis associated with the domestication of citrus","volume":"121","author":"Peng","year":"2024","journal-title":"Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A."},{"issue":"2","key":"2026091609083330200_cit41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"340","DOI":"10.1016\/j.synbio.2024.03.009","article-title":"Systemically functional\ncharacterization of regiospecific flavonoid O-methyltransferases\nfrom Glycine max","volume":"9","author":"Feng","year":"2024","journal-title":"Synth. Syst. Biotechnol."}],"container-title":["Journal of Agricultural\nand Food Chemistry"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/pubs.acs.org\/doi\/pdf\/10.1021\/acs.jafc.6c04251","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"unspecified"},{"URL":"https:\/\/pubs.acs.org\/jafcau\/article-pdf\/74\/36\/28854\/68279508\/acs.jafc.6c04251.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"syndication"},{"URL":"https:\/\/pubs.acs.org\/jafcau\/article-pdf\/74\/36\/28854\/68279508\/acs.jafc.6c04251.pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,16]],"date-time":"2026-09-16T13:32:43Z","timestamp":1789565563000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/pubs.acs.org\/jafcau\/article\/74\/36\/28854\/5412618\/Single-Cell-Transcriptomic-Profiling-of-the-O"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,3]]},"references-count":41,"journal-issue":{"issue":"36","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,3]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,16]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1021\/acs.jafc.6c04251","relation":{},"ISSN":["0021-8561","1520-5118"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0021-8561","type":"print"},{"value":"1520-5118","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,3]]}}}