中科院华南植物园生物技术研究组近几年在马国华研究员领导下，开展檀香结香机理研究。科研人员从檀香结香过程的主要环节，克隆了多个主要的基因（1-Deoxy-D-Xylulose 5-Phosphate Reductoisomerase, acetyl-CoA C-acetyltransferase, 3-hydroxy- 3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase，Bisabolene Synthetase, terpene synthase genes）等，同时对其细胞定位和在植物不同组织的功能进行了分析，这对于今后檀香结香机理以及人工促进结香都有重要的科学价值。 

　　相关系列科研成果分别发表在多个国际学术期刊：Genes，International Journal of Molecular Sciences，BMC Plant Biology，Scientific Reports，Phytochemistry，Plants，Forests上。相关项目得到国家基金项目和广东省重点科技项目以及广东省基金项目等的资助。论文发表情况及链接： 

　　(1)  (2021) Molecular cloning and functional identification of 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 1,5-phosphate reductoisomerase from Santalum album. Genes 12: 626. https://doi.org/10.3390/genes12050626 

　　(2)  (2021)Elicitors modulate young sandalwood (Santalum album L.) growth, heartwood formation, and concrete oil synthesis. Plants, 10, 339. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10020339 

　　(3)  (2021) Functional characterization of an Indian sandalwood (Santalum album L.) dual-localized bifunctional nerolidol/linalool synthase gene involved in stress response. Phytochemistry 183:112610. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phytochem.2020.112610 

　　(4)  (2021) Cloning, characterization, and functional analysis of acetyl-CoA C-acetyltransferase and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase genes in Santalum album. Scientific Reports 11:1082. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-80268-3 

　　(5)  (2020) Molecular cloning and functional characterization of bisabolene synthetase (SaBS) promoter from Santalum album. Forests 11: 85. doi:10.3390/f11010085 

　　(6)  (2019) Genome- wide characterization, expression profile analysis of WRKY family genes in Santalum album and functional identification of their role in abiotic stress. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 20, 5676. https://doi:10.3390/ijms20225676 

　　(7)  (2019) Identification and functional characterization of three new terpene synthase genes involved in chemical defense and abiotic stresses in Santalum album. BMC Plant Biology 19:115. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-019-1720-3

图. 檀香结香机理研究