Dihydroflavonol 4-reductase cDNA from non-anthocyanin-producing species in the Caryophyllales

Two types of red pigment, anthocyanins and betacyanins, never occur together in the same plant. Although anthocyanins are widely distributed in higher plants as flower and fruit pigments, betacyanins have replaced anthocyanins in the Caryophyllales. We isolated cDNAs encoding dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR), which is the first enzyme committed to anthocyanin biosynthesis in the flavonoid pathway, from Spinacia oleracea and Phytolacca americana, plants that belong to the Caryophyllales. The deduced amino acid sequence of Spinacia DFR and Phytolacca DFR revealed a high degree of homology with DFRs of anthocyanin-producing plants. The DFR of carnation, an exception in the Caryophyllales that synthesizes anthocyanin, showed the highest level of identity. In the phylogenetic tree, Spinacia DFR and Phytolacca DFR clustered with the DFRs of anthocyanin-synthesizing dicots. Recombinant Spinacia and Phytolacca DFRs expressed in Escherichia coli convert dihydroflavonol to leucoanthocyanidin. The expression and function of DFR in spinach and pokeweed are discussed in relation to the molecular evolution of red pigment biosynthesis in higher plants.     

Diversity in plant red pigments: anthocyanins and betacyanins

Plant pigments are of interest for research into questions of basic biology as well as for purposes of applied biology. Red colors in flowers are mainly produced by two types of pigments: anthocyanins and betacyanins. Though anthocyanins are broadly distributed among plants, betacyanins have replaced anthocyanins in the Caryophyllales. Red plant pigments are good indicator metabolites for evolutionary studies of plant diversity as well as for metabolic studies of plant cell growth and differentiation. In this review, we focus on the biosynthesis of anthocyanins and betacyanins and the possible mechanisms underlying the mutual exclusion of betalains and anthocyanins based on the regulation of the biosynthesis of these red pigments.     

甜菜色素的生物学研究进展

甜菜色素(Betalains)是一类以六碳结构为骨架的水溶性色素,存在于石竹目Caryophyllales的绝大部分科和一类真菌中。目前已知甜菜色素大约有75种,都属于季胺型生物碱,可以分为两类:甜菜黄素(Betaxanthin)和甜菜红素(Betacyanin)。甜菜色素除了赋予花、果、叶着色,吸引昆虫,提高植物本身抗逆能力等外,也具有优良的抗氧化作用。甜菜色素的合成代谢始于酪氨酸,是由4~5个关键酶催化反应和一系列自发反应构成的反应网络。本文结合国内外最新研究进展,对甜菜色素理化性质、生理功能、合成以及应用做较为全面的综述。     

Anthocyanin synthesis potential in betalain-producing Caryophyllales plants

Journal of Plant Research - Although anthocyanins are widely distributed in higher plants, betalains have replaced anthocyanins in most species of the order Caryophyllales. The accumulation of...     

Analysis of betalains from fruits of Opuntia species

Betalains are of great taxonomic significance in higher plants and occur only in 10 families of the order Caryophyllales (Centrospermae). They are water-soluble nitrogenous pigments. They can be divided into two major structural groups, the red to red-violet betacyanins and the yellow betaxanthins. Betalains are widely used as natural red food colorant as well as antioxidant potentials. Several methods have been published for the determination of betalain in fruits of Opuntia species. The purpose of the current review is to provide a systematic survey of the analytical techniques for the determination of betalain from fruits of Opuntia species.     

The COI1 and DFR Genes are Essential for Regulation of Jasmonate-Induced Anthocyanin Accumulation in Arabidopsis

Jasmonates （JAs） are a class of plant hormones that play important roles in the regulation of plant development and plant defense. It has been shown that Arabidopsis plants produce much higher levels of anthocyanins when treated exogenously with methyl jasmonate （MeJA）. However, a molecular link between the JA response and anthocyanin production has not been determined. The CORONATINE INSENTITIVE1 （COI1） gene is a key player in the regulation of many JA-related responses. In the present study, we demonstrate that the COI1 gene is also required for the JA-induced accumulation of anthocyanins in Arabidopsis. Furthermore, the MeJA-inducible expression of DIHYDROFLAVONOL REDUCTASE （DFR）, an essential component in the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway, was completely eliminated in the coil mutant. Jasmonateinduced anthocyanin accumulation was found to be independent of auxin signaling. The present results indicate that the expression of both COI1 and DFR genes is required for the regulation of JA-induced anthocyanin accumulation and that DFR may be a key downstream regulator for this process.     

The COI1 and DFR Genes are Essential for Regulation of Jasmonate-Induced Anthocyanin Accumulation in Arabidopsis

Jasmonates(JAs)are a class of plant hormones that play important roles in the regulation of plant development and plantdefense.It has been shown that Arabidopsis plants produce much higher levels of anthocyanins when treated exogenouslywith methyl jasmonate(MeJA).However,a molecular link between the JA response and anthocyanin production hasnot been determined.The CORONATINE INSENTITIVE1(COI1)gene is a key player in the regulation of many JA-relatedresponses.In the present study,we demonstrate that the COI1 gene is also required for the JA-induced accumulation ofanthocyanins in Arabidopsis.Furthermore,the MeJA-inducible expression of DIHYDROFLAVONOL REDUCTASE(DFR),anessential component in the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway,was completely eliminated in the coil mutant.Jasmonate-induced anthocyanin accumulation was found to be independent of auxin signaling.The present results indicate that theexpression of both COI1 and DFR genes is required for the regulation of JA-induced anthocyanin accumulation and thatDFR may be a key downstream regulator for this process.     

高等植物二氢黄酮醇4-还原酶基因研究进展

花青素苷是影响植物花瓣呈色的重要色素,而花色是决定花卉观赏价值和商业价值的一个重要因素。在花青素苷的生物合成过程中,二氢黄酮醇4-还原酶（DFR）是花青素苷生物合成下游途径中的第一个关键的酶。因此,DFR在高等植物花色的形成过程中发挥极其重要的作用,是形成花青素苷的一个非常重要的调控点。DFR对3种二氢黄酮醇底物具有选择特异性,但决定DFR底物特异性的分子机制目前仍不十分清楚。该文简单概述了花青素苷生物合成途径及其转录调控机制,并结合作者的工作重点综述了DFR的底物特异性以及克隆的DFR基因在植物基因工程中的应用。     

二氢黄酮醇 4 还原酶在花青素合成中的功能及调控研究进展

植物色素主要有花青素、类胡萝卜素和生物碱类色素三大类,其中花青素是决定大部分被子植物组织或器官颜色的重要色素。花青素通过类黄酮途径合成,该途径是生物学上研究较多且较为清楚的代谢途径之一。近年来的研究表明,在该途径中除了查尔酮合成酶(chalcone synthase,CHS)、查尔酮异构酶(chalcone isomerase,CHI)和黄烷酮-3-羟化酶(flavanone-3-hydrolase,F3H)起着关键作用外,二氢黄酮醇-4-还原酶(dihydroflavonol 4-reductase,DFR)对花青素的合成也至关重要。DFR可催化3种二氢黄酮醇和2种黄烷酮生成5种不同的花青素前体,且DFR基因家族不同成员对各个底物的催化效率不同,因此它在一定程度上决定着植物中花青素的种类和含量,从而影响植物组织或器官的颜色。该文对近年来国内外有关DFR在花青素合成过程中的生物学功能与调控,包括DFR的特征、作用机制和系统进化以及环境、转录因子和一些结构基因与DFR的关系等方面的研究进展进行了综述,以期为DFR今后的研究和利用基因工程改变植物组织或器官的颜色提供理论依据。     

Structural implications on color, fluorescence, and antiradical activity in betalains

Betalains are water-soluble pigments with high antiradical capacity which bestow bright colors on flowers and fruits of most plants of the order Caryophyllales. They are classified as betacyanins, exhibiting a violet coloration, and betaxanthins, which exhibit yellow coloration. Traditionally, betalains have been defined as condensation products of betalamic acid with different amines and amino acids, but the implication of the pigment structure for their properties has not been investigated. This paper explores different structural features of the betalains, revealing the clues for the switch from yellow to violet color, and the loss of fluorescence. A relevant series of 15 betalain-related compounds (both natural and novel semisynthetic ones) is obtained and characterized by chromatography, UV-vis spectrophotometry, fluorescence, and electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy. Antiradical properties of individual pure compounds in a broad pH range are studied under the ABTS^•+ radical assay. Relevance of specific bonds is studied, and differences between betaxanthins and betacyanins are used to explore in depth the structure–antiradical activity relationships in betalains.     

White-fruited Duchesnea indica (Rosaceae) is impaired in ANS gene expression

? Premise of the study: Duchesnea indica is a wild strawberry-like species that has red fruits. In a recent survey in the highlands of Tucumán (Argentina), a plant of D. indica with white fruits was discovered. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the white-fruited character was due to a phenotypic or genotypic change. The stability and heritability of the character and the expression of genes involved in anthocyanins synthesis were studied and compared with red-fruited genotypes. This study contributes to understanding the molecular basis of some factors involved in fruit pigmentation, a horticulturally and taxonomically important trait. ? Methods: Stability and heritability of the white-fruited character were evaluated in plants obtained by asexual propagation or by sexual crosses between the white- and red-fruited genotypes. Asexual multiplications were carried out by stolon rooting and sexual multiplications by germination of achenes obtained from crosses. The expression level of the genes involved in the synthesis and regulation of the anthocyanins pathway (CHS, F3H, DFR, ANS, and MYB10) were evaluated by RT-PCR using specific primers. ? Key results: Plants with the white-fruited character always yielded white-fruited progeny when propagated asexually, whereas in sexually propagated plants fruit color depended on the mother. Red-fruited mothers yielded red-fruited progeny, and white-fruited mothers yielded fruits ranging from dark pink to white. Molecular analysis suggested that the white-fruited character was due to the low expression of the ANS gene. ? Conclusions: Results obtained indicate that the white-fruited character was stable. Mother progenitors exert a strong influence on the expression of the white-fruited character. The white-fruited phenotype is due to the impairment or downregulation of the ANS gene.     

Additional betalain accumulation by genetic engineering leads to a novel flower color in lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum)

Betalains, comprising violet betacyanins and yellow betaxanthins, are pigments found in plants belonging to the order Caryophyllales. In this study, we induced the accumulation of betalains in ornamental lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum) by genetic engineering. Three betalain biosynthetic genes encoding CYP76AD1, dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) 4,5-dioxygenase (DOD), and cyclo-DOPA 5-O-glucosyltransferase (5GT) were expressed under the control of the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter in lisianthus, in which anthocyanin pigments are responsible for the pink flower color. During the selection process on hygromycin-containing media, some shoots with red leaves were obtained. However, most red-colored shoots were suppressed root induction and incapable of further growth. Only clone #1 successfully acclimatized and bloomed, producing pinkish-red flowers, with a slightly greater intensity of red color than that in wild-type flowers. T₁ plants derived from clone #1 segregated into five typical flower color phenotypes: wine red, bright pink, pale pink, pale yellow, and salmon pink. Among these, line #1-1 showed high expression levels of all three transgenes and exhibited a novel wine-red flower color. In the flower petals of line #1-1, abundant betacyanins and low-level betaxanthins were coexistent with anthocyanins. In other lines, differences in the relative accumulation of betalain and anthocyanin pigments resulted in flower color variations, as described above. Thus, this study is the first to successfully produce novel flower color varieties in ornamental plants by controlling betalain accumulation through genetic engineering.     

Substrate specificity and sequence analysis define a polyphyletic origin of betanidin 5- and 6-<Emphasis Type="Italic">O</Emphasis>-glucosyltransferase from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dorotheanthus bellidiformis</Emphasis>

Betanidin 6-O-glucosyltransferase (6-GT) is involved in the glycosylation of betacyanins, which replace the chromogenic anthocyanins as flower colorants in the Caryophyllales. The 6-GT cDNA was cloned from a cDNA library of Dorotheanthus bellidiformis (Burm. f.) N.E. Br., and the amino acid and nucleotide sequences were shown to be distinctly different from the corresponding betanidin 5-O-glucosyltransferase (5-GT) from the same plant species. Although both enzymes share very similar substrates, the proteins show only 19% amino acid sequence identity. In contrast, the protein sequence of the 6-GT showed significant identity to GTs from other species and may identify a new cluster of putative anthocyanidin GTs. Therefore, 6-GT and 5-GT apparently have evolved independently from ancestral glucosyltransferases involved in flavonoid biosynthesis.     

Redirection of anthocyanin synthesis in Osteospermum hybrida by a two-enzyme manipulation strategy

Modern biotechnology has developed powerful tools for genetic engineering and flower colours are an excellent object to study possibilities and limitations of engineering strategies. Osteospermum hybrida became a popular ornamental plant within the last 20 years. Many cultivars display rose to lilac flower colours mainly based on delphinidin-derived anthocyanins. The predominant synthesis of delphinidin derivatives is referred to a strong endogenous flavonoid 3',5'-hydroxylase (F3'5'H) activity. Furthermore, since dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR) of Osteospermum does not convert dihydrokaempferol (DHK) to leucopelargonidin, synthesis of pelargonidin-based anthocyanins is naturally not realised. In order to redirect anthocyanin biosynthesis in Osteospermum towards pelargonidin derivatives, we introduced cDNAs coding for DFRs which efficiently convert DHK to LPg. But neither the expression of Gerbera hybrida DFR nor of Fragaria x ananassa DFR - the latter is characterised by an unusual high substrate preference for DHK - altered anthocyanin composition in flowers of transgenic plants. However, chemical inhibition of F3'5'H activity in ray florets of dfr transgenic plants resulted in the accumulation of pelargonidin derivatives. Accordingly, retransformation of a transgenic plant expressing Gerbera DFR with a construct for RNAi-mediated suppression of F3'5'H activity resulted in double transgenic plants accumulating predominantly pelargonidin derivatives in flowers.     

Tyrosine Hydroxylation in Betalain Pigment Biosynthesis Is Performed by Cytochrome P450 Enzymes in Beets (Beta vulgaris)

Yellow and red-violet betalain plant pigments are restricted to several families in the order Caryophyllales, where betacyanins play analogous biological roles to anthocyanins. The initial step in betalain biosynthesis is the hydroxylation of tyrosine to form L-DOPA. Using gene expression experiments in beets, yeast, and Arabidopsis, along with HPLC/MS analysis, the present study shows that two novel cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes, CYP76AD6 and CYP76AD5, and the previously described CYP76AD1 can perform this initial step. Co-expressing these CYP450s with DOPA 4,5-dioxygenase in yeast, and overexpression of these CYP450s in yellow beets show that CYP76AD1 efficiently uses L-DOPA leading to red betacyanins while CYP76AD6 and CYP76AD5 lack this activity. Furthermore, CYP76AD1 can complement yellow beetroots to red while CYP76AD6 and CYP76AD5 cannot. Therefore CYP76AD1 uniquely performs the beet R locus function and beets appear to be genetically redundant for tyrosine hydroxylation. These new functional data and ancestral character state reconstructions indicate that tyrosine hydroxylation alone was the most likely ancestral function of the CYP76AD alpha and beta groups and the ability to convert L-DOPA to cyclo-DOPA evolved later in the alpha group.