Transcriptomic analysis of Lycium ruthenicum Murr. during fruit ripening provides insight into structural and regulatory genes in the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway

Abstract

Fruit development in Lycium ruthenicum Murr. involves a succession of physiological and biochemical changes reflecting the transcriptional modulation of thousands of genes. Although recent studies have investigated the dynamic transcriptomic responses during fruit ripening in L. ruthenicum, most have been limited in scope, and thus systematic data representing the structural genes and transcription factors involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis are lacking. In this study, the transcriptomes of three ripening stages associated with anthocyanin accumulation, including S1 (green ripeness stage), S2 (skin color change) and S3 (complete ripeness stage) in L. ruthenicum were investigated using Illumina sequencing. Of a total of 43,573 assembled unigenes, 12,734 were differentially expressed during fruit ripening in L. ruthenicum. Twenty-five significantly differentially expressed structural genes (including PAL, C4H, 4CL, CHS, CHI, F3H, F3'H, F3'5'H, DFR, ANS and UFGT) were identified that might be associated with anthocyanin biosynthesis. Additionally, several transcription factors, including MYB, bHLH, WD40, NAC, WRKY, bZIP and MADS, were correlated with the structural genes, implying their important interaction with anthocyanin biosynthesisrelated genes. Our findings provide insight into anthocyanin biosynthesis and regulation patterns in L. ruthenicum and offer a systematic basis for elucidating the molecular mechanisms governing anthocyanin biosynthesis in L. ruthenicum.

Liquiritin elicitation can increase the content of medicinally important glucosinolates and phenolic compounds in Chinese kale plants

“…The up‐regulation of these genes under external elicitation has been shown to be associated with increased biosynthesis of PHs . Coumaric acid synthesis is controlled through the regulation of PAL and C4H genes . In a subsequent step, the enzyme 4CL takes part in the generation of 4‐coumaroyl‐CoA.…”

The Genetic Basis and Nutritional Benefits of Pigmented Rice Grain

“…Anthocyanin production in pigmented grain appeared to be induced and fine-tuned by BBX14 in conjunction with the basic leucine zipper transcription factor HY5. Both irradiation at a high light intensity and the plant's sugar content can influence anthocyanin and proanthocyanin synthesis Ma et al, 2018;Zhang et al, 2018). Therefore it would be of value to search for linkages between photoreceptor and light signal transduction elements associated with anthocyanin/proanthocyanidin synthesis in pigmented rice (Teng et al, 2005).…”

Identification of the regulatory networks and hub genes controlling alfalfa floral pigmentation variation using RNA-sequencing analysis

“…The samples with an RNA Integrity Number (RIN) ≥ 8 were selected for subsequent analysis [26]. The size and purity of the library were determined using an Agilent 2100 Bioanalyzer.…”

“…Flavonoids, especially anthocyanidins, contribute to the pigmentation of flowers in plants [23,24]. In the process of flower blooming, a somatic mutation from the recessive white to the pigmented revertant allele occurs, and flower variegation is inevitably the result of the differential expression of regulatory genes [25,26]. To date, flower color-associated genes have been identified in many ornamental plants and in numerous studies, such as grape hyacinth, Camellia nitidissima, Erysimum cheiri, and Matthiola incana, to name a few [27,28,29].…”