Tobacco TTG2 and ARF8 function concomitantly to control flower colouring by regulating anthocyanin synthesis genes

• Recently we elucidated that tobacco TTG2 cooperates with ARF8 to regulate the vegetative growth and seed production.
• Here we show that TTG2 and ARF8 control flower colouring by regulating expression of ANS and DFR genes, which function in anthocyanin biosynthesis.
• Genetic modifications that substantially altered expression levels of the TTG2 gene and production quantities of TTG2 protein were correlated with flower development and colouring. Degrees of flower colour were increased by TTG2 overexpression but decreased through TTG2 silencing, in coincidence with high and low concentrations of anthocyanins in flowers. Of five genes involved in the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway, only ANS and DFR were TTG2‐regulated and displayed enhancement and diminution of expression with TTG2 overexpression and silencing, respectively. The floral expression of ANS and DFR also needed a functional ARF8 gene, as ANS and DFR expression were attenuated by ARF8 silencing, which concomitantly diminished the role of TTG2 in anthocyanin production. While ARF8 required TTG2 to be expressed by itself and to regulate ANS and DFR expression, the concurrent presence of normally functional TTG2 and ARF8 was critical for floral production of anthocyanins and also for flower colouration.
• Our data suggest that TTG2 functions concomitantly with ARF8 to control degrees of flower colour by regulating expression of ANS and DFR, which are involved in the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway. ARF8 depends on TTG2 to regulate floral expression of ANS and DFR with positive effects on anthocyanin production and flower colour.

     

Flower color diversity revealed by differential expression of flavonoid biosynthetic genes and flavonoid accumulation in herbaceous peony (Paeonia lactiflora Pall.)

Herbaceous peony (Paeonia lactiflora Pall.) is an important ornamental plant which contains different flower colors. In this paper, eight genes encoding phenylalanine ammonialyase (PAL), chalcone synthase (CHS), chalcone isomerase (CHI), flavanone 3-hydroxylase (F3H), flavonoid 3′-hydroxylase (F3′H), dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR), anthocyanidin synthase (ANS), UDP-glucose: flavonoid 3-o-glucosyltransferase (UF3GT) were isolated. Moreover, the expression patterns of these eight genes and UF5GT in the flowers were investigated in three cultivars, that is, ‘Hongyanzhenghui’, ‘Yulouhongxing’ and ‘Huangjinlun’ with purplish-red, white and yellow flower respectively. Furthermore, flavonoid accumulation in the flowers was also analyzed. The results showed that in different organs, most of genes expressed higher in flowers than in other organs. During the development of flowers, all genes could be divided into four groups. The first group (PlPAL) was highly expressed in S1 and S4. The second group (PlCHS and PlCHI) was at a high expression level throughout the whole developmental stages. The third group (PlF3H, PlF3′H, PlDFR, PlANS and PlUF5GT) gradually decreased with the development of flowers. The fourth group (PlUF3GT) gradually increased during the flower development. In addition, anthoxanthins and anthocyanins were detected in ‘Hongyanzhenghui’ and ‘Yulouhongxing’, chalcones and anthoxanthins were found in ‘Huangjinlun’. When different color flowers were concerned, low expression level of PlCHI induced most of the substrate accumulation in the form of chalcones and displaying yellow, changing a small part of substrates to anthoxanthins, and there was no anthocyanin synthesis in ‘Huangjinlun’ because of low expression level of DFR. In ‘Yulouhongxing’, massive expressions of upstream genes and low expression of DFR caused synthesis of a great deal of anthoxanthins and a small amount of colorless anthocyanins. In ‘Hongyanzhenghui’, a large number of colored anthocyanins were changed from anthoxanthins because of PlDFR, PlANS and PlUF3GT high expressions. These results would provide us a theoretical basis to understand the formation of P. lactiflora flower colors.     

The role of light in the regulation of anthocyanin accumulation in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gerbera hybrida</Emphasis>

In the present work, the pigmentation regulated by light was investigated in ray floret (rf) of Gerbera hybrida. When inflorescences from stage 1 were covered with aluminium foil in vivo the pigmentation of the rf petals was strongly blocked and the gene expression of CHS (Chalcone synthase) and DFR (Dihydroflavonol-4-reductase) was inhibited. Similar results were obtained when the detached rfs were cultured in vitro. Covering of the leaves on the plants resulted in reduced pigmentation compared with the covering of inflorescences in vivo. Removal of the green bracts did not affect the pigmentation significantly and the anthocyanin concentration was maintained at a level similar to that of the control. The ultrastructure of the plastids in rf petals was examined to investigate the possible role of photosynthesis in light regulation of flower pigmentation. Plastids within rf epidermal cells showed a characteristic chloroplast morphology in flowers at stage 2, which deteriorated by stage 3. They then changed to a chromoplast-like structure in fully opened rf petals (stage 6). Similar chromoplast-like structures were observed in the plastids of the rf petals from inflorescences both shaded in vivo and in vitro. Additionally, DCMU, a photosynthetic inhibitor, did not show a significant effect on light-induced anthocyanin accumulation. Our data suggest that light is an important factor for pigmentation of rf petal in Gerbera and the petal itself acts as a light sensor site to perceive the light signal. From the different light qualities evaluated, blue light promoted gene expression of CHS and DFR, and red light enhanced the gene expression of CHS, indicating the photoreceptors responding to blue and red light involved in the photoregulation of flower pigmentation in Gerbera.     

The Flavonoid Pathway Regulates the Petal Colors of Cotton Flower

Although biochemists and geneticists have studied the cotton flower for more than one century, little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying the dramatic color change that occurs during its short developmental life following blooming. Through the analysis of world cotton germplasms, we found that all of the flowers underwent color changes post-anthesis, but there is a diverse array of petal colors among cotton species, with cream, yellow and red colors dominating the color scheme. Genetic and biochemical analyses indicated that both the original cream and red colors and the color changes post-anthesis were related to flavonoid content. The anthocyanin content and the expression of biosynthesis genes were both increased from blooming to one day post-anthesis (DPA) when the flower was withering and undergoing abscission. Our results indicated that the color changes and flavonoid biosynthesis of cotton flowers were precisely controlled and genetically regulated. In addition, flavonol synthase (FLS) genes involved in flavonol biosynthesis showed specific expression at 11 am when the flowers were fully opened. The anthocyanidin reductase (ANR) genes, which are responsible for proanthocyanidins biosynthesis, showed the highest expression at 6 pm on 0 DPA, when the flowers were withered. Light showed primary, moderate and little effects on flavonol, anthocyanin and proanthocyanidin biosynthesis, respectively. Flavonol biosynthesis was in response to light exposure, while anthocyanin biosynthesis was involved in flower color changes. Further expression analysis of flavonoid genes in flowers of wild type and a flavanone 3-hydroxylase (F3H) silenced line showed that the development of cotton flower color was controlled by a complex interaction between genes and light. These results present novel information regarding flavonoids metabolism and flower development.     

Anatomical and biochemical studies of bicolored flower development in Muscari latifolium

The inflorescence of the broad-leafed grape hyacinth, Muscari latifolium, shows an interesting, two-tone appearance with the upper flowers being pale blue and the lower ones purple. To elucidate the mechanism of the differential color development, anatomical research was carried out and a cytological study of the colored protoplasts in which the shapes of the cells accumulating anthocyanin were observed by scanning electron microscopy. Next, vacuolar pH was recorded using a pH meter with a micro combination pH electrode, and the sap’s metal-ion content was measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The anthocyanin and co-pigment composition was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Chemical analyses reveal that the difference in metal-ion content of the two parts was not great. The vacuolar pHs of the upper and lower flowers were 5.91 and 5.84, respectively, with the difference being nonsignificant. HPLC results indicate that the dihydroflavonol and flavonol contents are also very similar in the two sorts of flower. However, the upper flowers contained only delphinidin, whereas the lower flowers also contained cyanidin. The total anthocyanin content in the lower flowers was 4.36 mg g^?1, which is approximately seven times higher than in the upper flowers, while the delphinidin content is four times higher. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis established that the two-tone flower was a result of different expressions of the F3′5′H, F3′H and DFR genes, and these lead to different amounts of anthocyanin.     

Identification and functional analysis of anthocyanin biosynthesis genes in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phalaenopsis</Emphasis> hybrids

Phalaenopsis species are among the most popular potted flowers for their fascinating flowers. When their whole-genome sequencing was completed, they have become useful for studying the molecular mechanism of anthocyanin biosynthesis. Here, we identified 49 candidate anthocyanin synthetic genes in the Phalaenopsis genome. Our results showed that duplication events might contribute to the expansion of some gene families, such as the genes encoding chalcone synthase (PeCHS), flavonoid 3′-hydroxylase (PeF3′H), and myeloblastosis (PeMYB). To elucidate their functions in anthocyanin biosynthesis, we conducted a global expression analysis. We found that anthocyanin synthesis occurred during the very early flower development stage and that the flavanone 3-hydroxylase (F3H), F3′H, and dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR) genes played key roles in this process. Over-expression of Phalaenopsis flavonoid 3′,5′-hydroxylase (F3′5′H) in petunia showed that it had no function in anthocyanin production. Furthermore, global analysis of sequences and expression patterns show that the regulatory genes are relatively conserved and might be important in regulating anthocyanin synthesis through different combined expression patterns. To determine the functions of MYB2, 11, and 12, we over-expressed them in petunia and performed yeast two-hybrid analysis with anthocyanin (AN)1 and AN11. The MYB2 protein had strong activity in regulating anthocyanin biosynthesis and induced significant pigment accumulation in transgenic plant petals, whereas MYB11 and MYB12 had lower activities. Our work provided important improvement in the understanding of anthocyanin biosynthesis and established a foundation for floral colour breeding in Phalaenopsis through genetic engineering.     

Expression ofCHS, CHI, andDFR genes in response to light in small radish seedlings

The expression patterns of the genes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis and the changes in anthocyanin content were investigated in small radish (Raphanus sativus L. varsativus) seedlings during light treatment. Anthocyanin content increased until day 4, reaching about 100-fold greater than the control plants, then decreased.CHS (chalcone synthase) mRNA reached a maximum level at 4 h, remained at relatively high levels until day 3, and then decreased rapidly. TheCHI (chalcone isomerase) andDFR (dihydrofolate reductase) mRNA levels reached maximum at 6 h and day 2, respectively, but were decreased rapidly thereafter. All the genes were expressed strongly in hypocotyls, but were either expressed weakly in roots or not expressed at all in cotyledons. Genomic hybridization showed that theCHS gene belonged to a small multigene family, while theCHI andDFR genes were present in one copy per haploid genome.     

喜盐鸢尾花色形成关键基因的克隆及表达分析

喜盐鸢尾(Iris halophila Pall.)及其变种蓝花喜盐鸢尾(I.halophila Pall.var.sogdiana(Bung)Grubov)因耐盐碱及其多种花色而具有盐碱地园艺开发价值。本文根据喜盐鸢尾内轮花被转录组测序结果,利用基因特异性引物从这2种植物中分别克隆了编码查尔酮合成酶(CHS)、查尔酮异构酶(CHI)、类黄酮-3',5'-羟基化酶类(F3'5'H-like)等基因的部分片段,并对它们在内轮花被中的表达水平进行实时定量PCR分析。序列分析结果确认在喜盐鸢尾中所克隆的CHS(311 bp)、CHI(457 bp)、F3'5'H-like(496 bp)3个基因(部分)未见文献报道与NCBI等数据库记录。其中F3'5'H-like基因与经典的属于细胞色素P450CYP75A亚家族的F3'5'H不同,而与万带兰的F3'5'H-like同属于CYP76AB亚家族,为一类新的蓝花相关基因。实时定量PCR表达分析结果表明,与黄花的喜盐鸢尾相比,蓝花喜盐鸢尾中CHS与F3'5'H-like显著上调表达,可能是其花色不同于喜盐鸢尾的主要原因。