Complementation of the Tomato anthocyanin without (aw) Mutant Using the Dihydroflavonol 4-Reductase Gene

We isolated the dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR) gene from tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) using a previously characterized cDNA as probe. Earlier studies had indicated that the DFR gene is present in tomato as a single gene located on chromosome 2 near the locus anthocyanin without (aw). Mutant alleles of the aw locus result in the complete absence of anthocyanin pigmentation throughout all stages of plant development. When the genomic DFR clone was introduced by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation into plants bearing the aw mutation, primary transgenic seedlings accumulated anthocyanins that could be observed while the plants were still in tissue culture and which continued to be observed as the plants matured. Progeny of self pollinated and backcrossed transgenic plants segregated for anthocyanin pigmentation, and Southern hybridization analyses indicated the presence of the DFR transgene exclusively in those plants with pigmentation. These data indicate that the aw locus likely corresponds to the structural gene for DFR and that DFR can be used as a visual, nondestructive, plant-derived marker gene for tomato.     

不同花色菊花品种花色素结构基因的表达特性

对红色、黄色、粉紫色和白色菊花品种不同开放度的花序舌状花中CHS、CHI、DFR、F3H、F3′H和3GT基因的表达量进行了相对定量分析。结果表显示:6个基因的表达因不同花色、不同发育阶段而异。‘钟山红鹰’(红色)中各基因的表达量均较高,且均在Ⅱ(松蕾期)或Ⅲ(半开期)期达到峰值,其中DFR、3GT基因的表达量远高于其他花色品种。‘金陵娇黄’(黄色)中CHS、CHI基因表达量较高,且Ⅰ(紧蕾期)、Ⅱ期表达量高于Ⅲ、Ⅳ(盛开期)期;3GT、DFR基因表达量分别高或低于‘金陵笑靥’(粉紫色)品种中相应基因的表达量,但均比红色品种低;F3H在4个品种中表达量最低,F3′H表达量接近或略低于红色或粉紫色品种,且各阶段表达水平较稳定。‘金陵笑靥’中DFR表达量仅次于‘钟山红鹰’,3GT和CHS表达量低于红色与黄色品种。‘钟山雪桂’(白色)中各基因仅有微量表达,除F3H外各基因的表达量明显低于其他花色品种。研究表明,花色素结构基因DFR、3GT是菊花花色素合成的关键基因,DFR很可能是限速关键基因,一定表达水平的CHS、CHI也是菊花花色素合成所必须的,F3H基因与花色素合成不存在直接相关。     

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。     

Gerbera hybrida (Asteraceae) imposes regulation at several anatomical levels during inflorescence development on the gene for dihydroflavonol-4-reductase

In the ornamental cut flower plant Gerbera hybrida the spatial distribution of regulatory molecules characteristic of differentiation of the composite inflorescence is visualized as the various patterns of anthocyanin pigmentation of different varieties. In order to identify genes that the plant can regulate according to these anatomical patterns, we have analysed gene expression affecting two enzymatic steps, chalcone synthase (CHS) and dihydroflavonol-4-reductase (DFR), in five gerbera varieties with spatially restricted anthocyanin pigmentation patterns. The dfr expression profiles vary at the levels of floral organ, flower type and region within corolla during inflorescence development according to the anthocyanin pigmentation of the cultivars. In contrast, chs expression, although regulated in a tissue-specific manner during inflorescence development, varies only occasionally. The variation in the dfr expression profiles between the varieties reveals spatially specific gene regulation that senses the differentiation events characteristic of the composite inflorescence.     

拟南芥AST基因的精细作图

拟南芥（Arabidopsis thaliana(L.)Heynh)ast(anthocyanin spotted testa)突变体是由碳离子辐射诱导产生的与花青苷生物合成有关的基因突变体。受单隐性核基因控制。根据拟南芥数据库中的SNPs(single nucleotide poly-mophisms)序列和插入/缺失多态性（insertion/deletion polymorphisms)序列,设计了一系列分子标记,采用图位克隆策略。应用这些分子标记完成了对拟南芥AST基因的精细作图,成功地将AST基因定位到BAC克隆T13M11上,初步认为该BAC克隆中的基因T13M11.8可能是AST基因。该基因的DNA序列长1432bp。含有6个外显子和5个内含子,编码的蛋白与花青苷生物合成途径中的二氢黄酮醇-4-还原酶有较高的同源性。将进一步通过功能互补实验验证图位克隆的结果。     

Functional Characterization of Dihydroflavonol-4-Reductase in Anthocyanin Biosynthesis of Purple Sweet Potato Underlies the Direct Evidence of Anthocyanins Function against Abiotic Stresses

Dihydroflavonol-4-reductase (DFR) is a key enzyme in the catalysis of the stereospecific reduction of dihydroflavonols to leucoanthocyanidins in anthocyanin biosynthesis. In the purple sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas Lam.) cv. Ayamurasaki, expression of the IbDFR gene was strongly associated with anthocyanin accumulation in leaves, stems and roots. Overexpression of the IbDFR in Arabidopsis tt3 mutants fully complemented the pigmentation phenotype of the seed coat, cotyledon and hypocotyl. Downregulation of IbDFR expression in transgenic sweet potato (DFRi) using an RNAi approach dramatically reduced anthocyanin accumulation in young leaves, stems and storage roots. In contrast, the increase of flavonols quercetin-3-O-hexose-hexoside and quercetin-3-O-glucoside in the leaves and roots of DFRi plants is significant. Therefore, the metabolic pathway channeled greater flavonol influx in the DFRi plants when their anthocyanin and proanthocyanidin accumulation were decreased. These plants also displayed reduced antioxidant capacity compared to the wild type. After 24 h of cold treatment and 2 h recovery, the wild-type plants were almost fully restored to the initial phenotype compared to the slower recovery of DFRi plants, in which the levels of electrolyte leakage and hydrogen peroxide accumulation were dramatically increased. These results provide direct evidence of anthocyanins function in the protection against oxidative stress in the sweet potato. The molecular characterization of the IbDFR gene in the sweet potato not only confirms its important roles in flavonoid metabolism but also supports the protective function of anthocyanins of enhanced scavenging of reactive oxygen radicals in plants under stressful conditions.     

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.     

七彩红竹二氢黄酮醇4-还原酶基因IhDFR1的克隆及表达分析

二氢黄酮醇4-还原酶（DFR）是植物花色素苷合成途径中的关键酶,在植物花色的形成过程中起重要作用。依据七彩红竹转录组数据设计特异引物,采用ImPcR技术从七彩红竹中克隆获得了一个新的DFR基因cDNA全长,命名为IhDFR1（登录号为KF728205）。序列分析结果表明,IhDFR1基因cDNA全长945bp,编码314个氨基酸。生物信息学预测显示,该基因编码的蛋白具有典型的DFR蛋白功能结构域,存在2个特异结合位点,属于非Asn／Asp型DFR酶,与禾本科植物中的DFR具有较高的相似性。对不同发育时期七彩红竹的IhDFR1基因进行时空表达的结果显示,只有在竹秆颜色呈现红紫色时,IhDFR1基因才有表达。以上结果初步显示IhDFR1蛋白可能作为一个重要的酶参与竹秆花色素苷的代谢调控,同时为进一步研究七彩红竹花色素苷产生的分子机理和综合开发利用奠定了基础。     

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.     

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.     

牡丹二氢黄酮醇4-还原酶基因PsDFR1的克隆及表达分析

二氢黄酮醇4-还原酶（DFR）是花色素苷合成途径中的关键酶,在植物花色的形成过程中起重要作用。本研究以牡丹品种‘彩绘’为试材,采用RT-PCR和RACE方法从花瓣中获得了一个牡丹DFR基因cDNA全长,命名为PsDFR1,GenBank登录号为HQ283448。序列分析结果表明,PsDFR1全长1242bp,包含一个长为1095bp的开放阅读框,编码364个氨基酸。生物信息学分析显示该基因编码的蛋白具有典型的DFR蛋白功能结构域,包括多个保守的短链脱氢/还原酶家族的特征位点,属于NADB_Rossmann超家族。氨基酸序列比对和系统进化树分析表明,PsDFR1与葡萄、棉花、毛果杨、梨等植物的DFR相似性都在75%以上。实时荧光定量PCR分析表明,PsDFR1在花色素大量积累的花瓣中表达量最高,其次是萼片和雄蕊,再次是叶片,在心皮中表达量最低。     

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.