Stilbene synthase gene transfer caused alterations in the phenylpropanoid metabolism of transgenic strawberry (Fragaria×ananassa)

Abstract

The gene encoding stilbene synthase is frequently used to modify plant secondary metabolism with the aim of producing the self-defence phytoalexin resveratrol. In this study, strawberry (Fragaria×ananassa) was transformed with the NS-Vitis3 gene encoding stilbene synthase from frost grape (Vitis riparia) under the control of the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S and the floral filament-specific fil1 promoters. Changes in leaf metabolites were investigated with UPLC-qTOF-MS (ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry) profiling, and increased accumulation of cinnamate, coumarate, and ferulate derivatives concomitantly with a decrease in the levels of flavonols was observed, while the anticipated resveratrol or its derivatives were not detected. The changed metabolite profile suggested that chalcone synthase was down-regulated by the genetic modification; this was verified by decreased chalcone synthase transcript levels. Changes in the levels of phenolic compounds led to increased susceptibility of the transgenic strawberry to grey mould fungus.

Research Article Coupled transcript and metabolite identification: insights on induction and synthesis of resveratrol in peanut, wild relatives and synthetic allotetraploid.

“…Resveratrol is synthesized by a one-step reaction (Hanhineva et al, 2009) of resveratrol synthase gene (RS) that is differentially regulated under different stimuli and in different tissues (Chung et al, 2003) and belongs to a large multigene family (Vannozzi et al, 2012). Arachis hypogaea RS genes were already cloned (Schröder et al, 1988;Huang et al, 2012).…”

High-Yield Resveratrol Production in Engineered Escherichia coli

“…However, isolation from plants, as for many natural products, yields a mixture of multiple isomers and substituted forms, including cis, trans, and various less-active glycosylated forms (3,18). While recently transgenic stilbene production has been achieved in commonly consumed plant species (7,12), titers have remained low, making the biosynthesis of resveratrol an ideal target for microbial fermentation. This is because the method is easily scaled to commercial application, unlike methods using plant cell cultures, which have general limitations in cell development control, tissue specificity, uniform inducibility, and promoter strength.…”

Effects of Ultraviolet C Irradiation on Stilbene Biosynthesis in Vitis vinifera L. cv. Cabernet Sauvignon Berry Skins and Calli

“…4CL, STS and CHS are the key enzymes that constitute the branching point of stilbene and the flavonoid pathway. The STS gene has been transferred successfully into several plants to obtain stilbene accumulation or increase disease resistance (Delaunois et al, 2009;Jeandet et al, 2013), including tobacco (Hain et al, 1990), oilseed rape (Hüsken et al, 2005) and strawberry (Hanhineva et al, 2009). The STS gene has also been transferred into microorganisms for the production of stilbene (Jeandet et al, 2012).…”