Analysis of biochemical compounds and differentially expressed genes of the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway in variegated peach flowers

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Variegated plants are highly valuable in the floriculturalmarket, yet the genetic mechanism underlying this attractive phenomenon has not been completely elucidated. In this study, we identified and measured different compounds in pink and white flower petals of peach (Prunus persica) by high-performance liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry analyses. No cyanidin-based or pelargonidin-based compounds were detected in white petals, but high levels of these compounds were found in pink petals. Additionally, we sequenced and analyzed the expression of six key structural genes in the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway (CHI, CHS, DFR, F3'H, ANS, and UFGT) in both white and pink petals. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction revealed all six genes to be expressed at greatly reduced levels in white flower petals, relative to pink. No allelic variations were found in the transcribed sequences. However, alignment of transcribed and genomic sequences of the ANS gene detected alternative splicing, resulting in transcripts (2015) of 1.071 and 942 bp. Only the longer transcript was observed in white flower petals. Since ANS is the key intermediate enzyme catalyzing the colorless leucopelargonidin and leucocyanidin to substrates required for completion of anthocyanin biosynthesis, the ANS gene is implicated in flower color variegation and should be explored in future studies. This article, together with a previous transcriptome study, elucidates the mechanism underlying peach flower color variegation in terms of the key structural genes involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis.

Comparative Metabolomic Analysis Reveals Distinct Flavonoid Biosynthesis Regulation for Leaf Color Development of Cymbidium sinense ‘Red Sun’

“…During the period of color change, UFGT activity firstly decreased, and then increased, while the UFGT gene expression level was significantly down-regulated ( Figure S5). Previous studies have found that overexpression of UFGT causes plants to show darker colors, such as crimson or purple, while overexpression of DFR or ANS only deepens the color to pink or lavender [34][35][36]. In this study, the results of qRT-PCR showed that the expression of ANS in red leaf stage was 833 times higher than that in green leaf stage, while the expression of UFGT in red leaf stage was 14 times higher than that in green leaf stage.…”

Elevation of secondary metabolites synthesis in Brassica campestris ssp. chinensis L. via exogenous inoculation of Piriformospora indica with appropriate fertilizer

“…The qRT-PCR was performed in three independent experimental repeats using a 20 μl total volume, where each experimental repeat contains at least three samples. The assembly of reaction mixture and amplification were carried out as previously described by Hassani et al [27]. The best gene-specific primers and internal control for qRT-PCR were selected based on their electrophoresis profiling (Figs 1 and 2).…”

Substantial Epigenetic Variation Causing Flower Color Chimerism in the Ornamental Tree Prunus mume Revealed by Single Base Resolution Methylome Detection and Transcriptome Sequencing

“…For instance, CHS , cinnamate- 4 -hydroxylase ( C4H ), flavanone 3 -hydroxylase ( F3H ), DFR , anthocyanidin synthase ( ANS ), and UDP-glucose : flavonoid 3 -O-glucosyltransferase ( UFGT ) genes have been found to exhibit differential expression patterns between red and white flower petal tissues of individual higher plants [7,18,19,20,21]. The alternative splicing of ANS results in red flower petals [22], while the sequence-specific silencing of CHS generates white sectors in Petunia hybrida “Red Star” flowers [23]. Flower color variegation was also observed when the regulator involved in anthocyanin transport ( Riant ) gene, encoding a GST protein, was expressed while harboring an insertion–deletion polymorphism in exon 3 [24], and a TT2-like R2R3 MYB has been shown to regulate anthocyanin biosynthesis in flowering P .…”