Integrative Analyses of Metabolomes and Transcriptomes Provide Insights into Flavonoid Variation in Grape Berries

Abstract

Flavonoids in grapes contribute the quality of the berry, but the flavonoid diversity and the regulatory networks underlying the variation require a further investigation. In this study, we integrated multi-omics data to systematically explore the global metabolic and transcriptional profiles in the skins and pulps of three grape cultivars. The results revealed large-scale differences involved in the flavonoid metabolic pathway. A total of 133 flavonoids, including flavone and flavone C-glycosides, were identified. Beyond the visible differences of anthocyanins, there was large variation in other sub-branched flavonoids, most of which were positively correlated with anthocyanins in grapes. The expressions of most flavonoid biosynthetic genes and the major regulators MYBA1 were strongly consistent with the changes in flavonoids. Integrative analysis identified two novel transcription factors (MYB24 and MADS5) and two ubiquitin proteins (RHA2) as promising regulatory candidates for flavonoid biosynthesis in grapes. Further verification in various grape accessions indicated that five major genes including flavonol 3′5′-hydroxylase (F3′5′H), UDP-glucose:flavonoid 3-O-glycosyl-transferase, anthocyanin O-methyltransferase, acyltransferase (3AT), and glutathione S-transferase (GST4) controlled flavonoid variation in grape berries. These findings provide valuable information for understanding the mechanism of flavonoid biosynthesis in grape berries and the further development of grape health products.

GWAS provides new insights into the genetic mechanisms of phytochemicals production and red skin colour in apple

“…Transgenic assays showed that MYB16 affects the regulation of anthocyanin and flavanol in apples [ 20 , 21 ], and this gene has also been reported as a major regulator of cuticle formation in apples [ 22 ]. MYB24 was reported to promote flavonoid biosynthesis through regulation of FLS1 gene expression in Arabidopsis thaliana [ 23 ] , and MYB24 also plays a role in flavonoid regulation in grape berries [ 24 ]. The MYB transcription factor MYB101 ( MD09G1109900), underpinning a significant region, was shown to play role in chalcone synthase (CHS) leading to flavonoid biosynthesis in Lotus japonicus [ 25 ] and Rosa rugosa [ 26 ].…”

The Biases in Flavonoids and Anthocyanin Biosynthesis of a Red Flesh Table Grape Revealed by Metabolome and Transcriptome Co-analysis

“…The study of Yan73 suggested that the accumulation of anthocyanin in esh tissue was probably due to speci c expression of the structural genes and TFs, which was coordinated and regulated by VvMYBA1 transcription activator and VvMYBC2-L1 transcription repressor (Xie et al, 2019). Comparing the metabolic and transcriptomic pro les of the skin and esh of three table grape varieties ('Kyoho', 'Wink', 'Italia'), it was found that besides anthocyanin, avonol and avanol were also different in a wide range, and MYB24, MADS5 and two ubiquitin proteins (RHA2) were suggested as promising candidates for regulating avonoids biosynthesis in grape (Lu et al, 2021).…”

Comprehensive study on nutritional, flavour and metabolite characteristics of green prickly ash (Zanthoxylum schinifolium) at different picking stages

“…Extraction of phenols was conducted according to the methods described previously with modification (Zhang et al ., 2018; Lu et al ., 2021). Sample powder (0.3 g) was mixed with 15 mL 60% ethanol (v/v) and ultrasonically extracted at 60°C for 1.5 h. After centrifugation, the supernatant was collected for the determination of total phenol (TPC) and flavonoid content (TFC).…”