Sucrose-specific induction of anthocyanin biosynthesis in Arabidopsis requires the MYB75/PAP1 gene

Sugar-induced anthocyanin accumulation has been observed in many plant species. We observed that sucrose (Suc) is the most effective inducer of anthocyanin biosynthesis in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) seedlings. Other sugars and osmotic controls are either less effective or ineffective. Analysis of Suc-induced anthocyanin accumulation in 43 Arabidopsis accessions shows that considerable natural variation exists for this trait. The Cape Verde Islands (Cvi) accession essentially does not respond to Suc, whereas Landsberg erecta is an intermediate responder. The existing Landsberg erecta/Cvi recombinant inbred line population was used in a quantitative trait loci analysis for Suc-induced anthocyanin accumulation (SIAA). A total of four quantitative trait loci for SIAA were identified in this way. The locus with the largest contribution to the trait, SIAA1, was fine mapped and using a candidate gene approach, it was shown that the MYB75/PAP1 gene encodes SIAA1. Genetic complementation studies and analysis of a laboratory-generated knockout mutation in this gene confirmed this conclusion. Suc, in a concentration-dependent way, induces MYB75/PAP1 mRNA accumulation. Moreover, MYB75/PAP1 is essential for the Suc-mediated expression of the dihydroflavonol reductase gene. The SIAA1 locus in Cvi probably is a weak or loss-of-function MYB75/PAP1 allele. The C24 accession similarly shows a very weak response to Suc-induced anthocyanin accumulation encoded by the same locus. Sequence analysis showed that the Cvi and C24 accessions harbor mutations both inside and downstream of the DNA-binding domain of the MYB75/PAP1 protein, which most likely result in loss of activity.     

蔗糖调节拟南芥花青素的生物合成

为了探讨糖在花青素合成过程中的调节作用,采用蔗糖和其代谢糖（葡萄糖 和果糖）组合处理拟南芥幼苗.实验结果表明,60 mmol/L蔗糖处理显著提高拟南芥 幼苗的花青素、还原糖含量,并上调花青素合成相关基因（CHS, FLS-1, DFR, LDOX, BANYULS）的转录,对叶绿素含量和UGT78D2基因的转录无影响;20 mmol/L 葡萄糖+20 mmol/L果糖处理,对花青素、叶绿素和还原糖的含量无影响,对花青素 合成相关基因转录影响不一;20 mmol/L蔗糖+20 mmol/L葡萄糖+20 mmol/L果糖处 理后,花青素和还原糖含量介于前两个处理之间,也上调花青素合成相关基因的转 录;但和蔗糖处理组相比,上调UGT78D2基因转录,下调FLS-1基因转录.在不同处 理组之间,花青素含量变化和还原糖含量变化趋势相同,有可能糖在调节花青素 合成的同时也调节还原糖含量.因此,蔗糖既可以通过蔗糖特异信号途径,也可以 和其代谢糖通过其他途径共同调节拟南芥花青素的生物合成.     

Regulation of Flavonoid Biosynthetic Genes in Germinating Arabidopsis Seedlings

Many higher plants, including Arabidopsis, transiently display purple anthocyanin pigments just after seed germination. We observed that steady state levels of mRNAs encoded by four flavonoid biosynthetic genes, PAL1 (encoding phenylalanine ammonia-lyase 1), CHS (encoding chalcone synthase), CHI (encoding chalcone isomerase), and DFR (encoding dihydroflavonol reductase), were temporally regulated, peaking in 3-day-old seedlings grown in continuous white light. Except for the case of PAL1 mRNA, mRNA levels for these flavonoid genes were very low in seedlings grown in darkness. Light induction studies using seedlings grown in darkness showed that PAL1 mRNA began to accumulate before CHS and CHI mRNAs, which, in turn, began to accumulate before DFR mRNA. This order of induction is the same as the order of the biosynthetic steps in flavonoid biosynthesis. Our results suggest that the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway is coordinately regulated by a developmental timing mechanism during germination. Blue light and UVB light induction experiments using red light- and dark-grown seedlings showed that the flavonoid biosynthetic genes are induced most effectively by UVB light and that blue light induction is mediated by a specific blue light receptor.     

Regulation of gene expression involved in flavonol and anthocyanin biosynthesis during petal development in lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum)

To elucidate gene regulation of flower colour formation, the gene expressions of the enzymes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis were investigated in correlation with their product during floral development in lisianthus. Full-length cDNA clones of major responsible genes in the central flavonoid biosynthetic pathway, including chalcone synthase (CHS), chalcone isomerase (CHI), flavanone 3-hydroxylase (F3H), flavonoid 3',5'-hydroxylase (F3'5'H), dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR), anthocyanidin synthase (ANS), and flavonol synthase (FLS), were isolated and characterized. In lisianthus, the stage of the accumulation of flavonols and anthocyanins was shown to be divided clearly. The flavonol content increased prior to anthocyanin accumulation during floral development and declined when anthocyanin began to accumulate. CHS, CHI, and F3H were necessary for both flavonol and anthocyanin biosynthesis and were coordinately expressed throughout all stages of floral development; their expressions were activated independently at the stages corresponding to flavonol accumulation and anthocyanin accumulation, respectively. Consistent with flavonol and anthocyanin accumulation patterns, FLS, a key enzyme in flavonol biosynthesis, was expressed prior to the expression of the genes involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis. The genes encoding F3'5'H, DFR, and ANS were expressed at later stages, just before pigmentation. The genes responsible for the flavonoid pathways branching to anthocyanins and flavonols were strictly regulated and were coordinated temporally to correspond to the biosynthetic order of their respective enzymes in the pathways, as well as in specific organs. In lisianthus, FLS and DFR, at the position of branching to flavonols and anthocyanins, were supposed to play a critical role in regulation of each biosynthesis.     

A chemical complementation approach reveals genes and interactions of flavonoids with other pathways

In addition to the classical functions of flavonoids in the response to biotic/abiotic stress conditions, these phenolic compounds have been implicated in the modulation of various developmental processes. These findings suggest that flavonoids are more integral components of the plant signaling machinery than traditionally recognized. To understand how flux through the flavonoid pathway affects plant cellular processes, we used wild‐type and chalcone isomerase mutant (transparent testa 5, tt5) seedlings grown under anthocyanin inductive conditions, in the presence or absence of the flavonoid intermediate naringenin, the product of the chalcone isomerase enzyme. Because flavonoid biosynthetic genes are expressed under anthocyanin inductive conditions regardless of whether anthocyanins are formed or not, this system provides an excellent opportunity to specifically investigate the molecular changes associated with increased flux through the flavonoid pathway. By assessing genome‐wide mRNA accumulation changes in naringenin‐treated and untreated tt5 and wild‐type seedlings, we identified a flavonoid‐responsive gene set associated with cellular trafficking, stress responses and cellular signaling. Jasmonate biosynthetic genes were highly represented among the signaling pathways induced by increased flux through the flavonoid pathway. In contrast to studies showing a role for flavonoids in the control of auxin transport, no effect on auxin‐responsive genes was observed. Taken together, our data suggest that Arabidopsis can sense flavonoids as a signal for multiple fundamental cellular processes.     

Functional conservation of plant secondary metabolic enzymes revealed by complementation of Arabidopsis flavonoid mutants with maize genes

Mutations in the transparent testa (tt) loci abolish pigment production in Arabidopsis seed coats. The TT4, TT5, and TT3 loci encode chalcone synthase, chalcone isomerase, and dihydroflavonol 4-reductase, respectively, which are essential for anthocyanin accumulation and may form a macromolecular complex. Here, we show that the products of the maize (Zea mays) C2, CHI1, and A1 genes complement Arabidopsis tt4, tt5, and tt3 mutants, restoring the ability of these mutants to accumulate pigments in seed coats and seedlings. Overexpression of the maize genes in wild-type Arabidopsis seedlings does not result in increased anthocyanin accumulation, suggesting that the steps catalyzed by these enzymes are not rate limiting in the conditions assayed. The expression of the maize A1 gene in the flavonoid 3' hydroxylase Arabidopsis tt7 mutant resulted in an increased accumulation of pelargonidin. We conclude that enzymes involved in secondary metabolism can be functionally exchangeable between plants separated by large evolutionary distances. This is in sharp contrast to the notion that the more relaxed selective constrains to which secondary metabolic pathways are subjected is responsible for the rapid divergence of the corresponding enzymes.     

Genetic regulation and photocontrol of anthocyanin accumulation in maize seedlings.

The flavonoid pathway leading to anthocyanin biosynthesis in maize is controlled by multiple regulatory genes and induced by various developmental and environmental factors. We have investigated the effect of the regulatory loci R, B, and Pl on anthocyanin accumulation and on the expression of four genes (C2, A1, Bz1, and Bz2) in the biosynthetic pathway during an inductive light treatment. The results show that light-mediated anthocyanin biosynthesis is regulated solely by R; the contributions of B and Pl are negligible in young seedlings. Induction of the A1 and Bz2 genes by high fluence-rate white light requires the expression of a dominant R allele, whereas accumulation of C2 and Bz1 mRNA occurs with either a dominant or recessive allele at R. A1 and Bz2 mRNA accumulate only in response to high fluence-rate white light, but Bz1 is fully expressed in dim red light. Some C2 mRNA is induced by dim red light, but accumulation is far greater in high fluence-rate white light. Furthermore, expression from both dominant and recessive alleles of the regulatory gene R is enhanced by high fluence-rate white light. Seedlings with a recessive allele at R produce functional chalcone synthase protein (the C2 gene product) but accumulate no anthocyanins, suggesting that, in contrast to the R-mediated coordinate regulation of C2 and Bz1 observed in the aleurone, C2 expression in seedlings is independent of R and appears to be regulated by a different light-sensitive pathway.     

Coordinated regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis through photorespiration and temperature in peach (Prunus persica f. atropurpurea)

The usual red color of young leaves of peach (Prunus persica f. atropurpurea) is due to the accumulation of anthocyanin. Real-time PCR analysis revealed a strong correlation between the expression levels of anthocyanin biosynthetic genes and anthocyanin content in leaves at different developmental stages. The expression profiles of both anthocyanin biosynthetic genes and photorespiratory genes showed significant changes in leaves held in the dark or exposed to heat stress, compared with controls. The expression of anthocyanin biosynthetic genes dramatically decreased in peach red leaves following dark or heat treatments, resulting in a significant decrease of anthocyanin accumulation. However, the photorespiration-related genes GDCH and GOX exhibited increased expression in peach leaves after dark or heat treatment. Moreover, the expression levels of GDCH and GOX in the Arabidopsis chi/f3′h mutant that does not accumulate anthocyanins were higher than in the wild type. Overall, these results support the hypothesis that photorespiration-related genes might be involved in the regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis. This finding provides a new insight into our understanding of the mechanism underlying the control of anthocyanin biosynthesis in plants.     

Trehalose induces the ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase gene, ApL3, and starch synthesis in Arabidopsis

In Arabidopsis, genes encoding functional enzymes for the synthesis and degradation of trehalose have been detected recently. In this study we analyzed how trehalose affects the metabolism and development of Arabidopsis seedlings. Exogenously applied trehalose (25 mM) strongly reduced the elongation of the roots and, concomitantly, induced a strong accumulation of starch in the shoots, whereas the contents of soluble sugars were not increased. When Arabidopsis seedlings were grown on trehalose plus sucrose (Suc), root elongation was restored, but starch still accumulated to a much larger extent than during growth on Suc alone. The accumulation of starch in the shoots of trehalose-treated seedlings was accompanied by an increased activity of ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase and an induction of the expression of the ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase gene, ApL3. Even in the presence of 50 mM Suc, which itself also slightly induced ApL3, trehalose (5 mM) led to a further increase in ApL3 expression. These results suggest that trehalose interferes with carbon allocation to the sink tissues by inducing starch synthesis in the source tissues. Furthermore, trehalose induced the expression of the beta-amylase gene, AT-beta-Amy, in combination with Suc but not when trehalose was supplied alone, indicating that trehalose can modulate sugar-mediated gene expression.     

Trehalose mediated growth inhibition of Arabidopsis seedlings is due to trehalose-6-phosphate accumulation

Trehalose-6-phosphate (T6P) is required for carbon utilization during Arabidopsis development, and its absence is embryo lethal. Here we show that T6P accumulation inhibits seedling growth. Wild-type seedlings grown on 100 mm trehalose rapidly accumulate T6P and stop growing, but seedlings expressing Escherichia coli trehalose phosphate hydrolase develop normally on such medium. T6P accumulation likely results from much-reduced T6P dephosphorylation when trehalose levels are high. Metabolizable sugars added to trehalose medium rescue T6P inhibition of growth. In addition, Suc feeding leads to a progressive increase in T6P concentrations, suggesting that T6P control over carbon utilization is related to available carbon for growth. Expression analysis of genes from the Arabidopsis trehalose metabolism further supports this: Suc rapidly induces expression of trehalose phosphate synthase homolog AtTPS5 to high levels. In contrast, T6P accumulation after feeding trehalose in the absence of available carbon induces repression of genes encoding T6P synthases and expression of T6P phosphatases. To identify processes controlled by T6P, we clustered expression profile data from seedlings with altered T6P content. T6P levels correlate with expression of a specific set of genes, including the S6 ribosomal kinase ATPK19, independently of carbon status. Interestingly, Suc addition represses 15 of these genes, one of which is AtKIN11, encoding a Sucrose Non Fermenting 1 (SNF1)-related kinase known to play a role in Suc utilization.