Cloning and analysis of valerophenone synthase gene expressed specifically in lupulin gland of hop (Humulus lupulus L.)

Resin and essential oil derived from hop (Humulus lupulus L.) cones are very important compounds for beer brewing, and they specifically accumulate in the lupulin gland of hop cones. In order to identify the genes responsible for the biosynthetic pathway of these compounds and use the identified genes for hop breeding using Marker Assisted Selection and transformation techniques, genes expressed specifically in the lupulin gland were cloned and sequenced. One of them was suggested to be similar to the chalcone synthase gene from the DNA sequence. The translation product of the gene had the activity of valerophenone synthase, which catalyzes a part of the synthesis reaction of alpha-acid and beta-acid. Northern analysis showed that the valerophenone synthase gene seemed to be expressed specifically in the lupulin gland.     

Enzymatic Reactions by Five Chalcone Synthase Homologs from Hop (Humulus lupulus L.)

The enzyme activities encoded in five cDNAs for chalcone synthase (CHS) homologs from hop were investigated. Only valerophenone synthase (VPS) and CHS_H1 showed both naringenin-chalcone and phlorisovalerophenone forming activity. Narigenin-chalcone production by VPS was much lower than by CHS_H1. Therefore, it is highly possible that flavonoid depends mainly on CHS_H1, while bitter acid biosynthesis depends mainly on VPS and CHS_H1.     

Chalcone synthase homologues from Humulus lupulus: some enzymatic properties and expression

The enzymatic properties of four chalcone synthase homologues CHS_H1, VPS, CHS 2 and CHS 4 from Humulus lupulus L. were investigated after heterologous expression in Escherichia coli. It was found that both VPS and CHS_H1 can utilize isovaleryl-CoA and isobutyryl-CoA as substrates producing compounds with positions in thin layer chromatography characteristic for phloroisovalerophenone and phloroisobutyrophenone. These reactions are accompanied by the formation of associated byproducts. The formation of naringenin chalcone can be catalyzed primarily by CHS_H1. Comparatively the ability of VPS to perform chalcone synthase reaction is very limited. Since only CHS_H1 has true chalcone synthase activity, this enzyme can be considered a key enzyme in prenylflavonoid biosynthesis. Both CHS 2 and CHS 4 utilize isovaleryl-CoA and isobutyryl-CoA as substrates, but the reactions were prematurely terminated. In comparison with VPS and CHS_H1, the optimum pH of CHS 2 was shifted to lower value. High expression of chalcone synthase-like genes were found in maturating hop cones of cultivars with high bitter acid content (Agnus, Magnum, Target) by Northern and Western blotting using probes specific for vps, chs_H1, chs 4 and polyspecific serum risen against recombinant protein CHS4, respectively. It was also found that these cultivars maintained expression of CHS homologues for a longer period of time during cone development in contrast to time-limited expression of CHS homologues in cultivars with low bitter acids content.     

筛选G-box结合蛋白的酵母单杂交文库的构建

目的：筛选花青素合成中的关键基因查尔酮合成酶基因CHS启动子中G-box的结合蛋白,从而找到调节CHS表达的转录因子。方法：采用Matchmaker Gold Yeast One-Hybrid Library Screening System,将CHS启动子G-box序列串联后整合入酵母染色体,构建诱饵菌株;采用SMART技术合成芜菁幼苗下胚轴cDNA,将该cDNA与pGADT7-Rec表达载体共同转化诱饵菌株,通过同源重组在酵母细胞内同步进行cDNA文库的构建和筛选;用酵母菌落PCR法获得阳性克隆中的cDNA插入片段,测序后在NCBI网站进行Blast分析。结果：共筛选了2.52×106个酵母克隆,得到94个阳性克隆,菌落PCR获得了长度为0.4~2.0 kb的cDNA插入片段,并通过Blast推测了其编码蛋白。结论：实验结果证明酵母单杂交文库构建成功,初步筛选获得了G-box结合蛋白的候选蛋白,为研究CHS的表达调控奠定了基础。     

Enzymatic reactions by five chalcone synthase homologs from hop (Humulus lupulus L.)

The enzyme activities encoded in five cDNAs for chalcone synthase (CHS) homologs from hop were investigated. Only valerophenone synthase (VPS) and CHS_H1 showed both naringenin-chalcone and phlorisovalerophenone forming activity. Narigenin-chalcone production by VPS was much lower than by CHS_H1. Therefore, it is highly possible that flavonoid depends mainly on CHS_H1, while bitter acid biosynthesis depends mainly on VPS and CHS_H1.     

Functional dissection of a bean chalcone synthase gene promoter in transgenic tobacco plants reveals sequence motifs essential for floral expression

Expression of chalcone synthase (CHS), the first enzyme in the flavonoid branch of the phenylpropanoid biosynthetic pathway in plants, is induced by developmental cues and environmental stimuli. We used plant transformation technology to delineate the functional structure of the French bean CHS15 gene promoter during plant development. In the absence of an efficient transformation procedure for bean, Nicotiana tabacum was used as the model plant. CHS15 promoter activity, evaluated by measurements of -d-glucuronidase (GUS) activity, revealed a tissue-specific pattern of expression similar to that reported for CHS genes in bean. GUS activity was observed in flowers and root tips. Floral expression was confined to the pigmented part of petals and was induced in a transient fashion. Fine mapping of promoter cis-elements was accomplished using a set of promoter mutants generated by unidirectional deletions or by site-directed mutagenesis. Maximal floral and root-specific expression was found to require sequence elements located on both sides of the TATA-box. Two adjacent sequence motifs, the G-box (CACGTG) and H-box (CCTACC(N)₇CT) located near the TATA-box, were both essential for floral expression, and were also found to be important for root-specific expression. The CHS15 promoter is regulated by a complex interplay between different cis-elements and their cognate factors. The conservation of both the G-box and H-box in different CHS promoters emphasizes their importance as regulatory motifs.     

Inhibition of flower pigmentation by antisense CHS genes: promoter and minimal sequence requirements for the antisense effect

Introduction of a constitutive antisense full-length chalcone synthase (CHS) cDNA gene in petunia can result in an inhibition of flower pigmentation. We have evaluated some of the factors which may be important for the effectiveness of an antisense CHS gene.Antisense CHS genes encoding half-length or quarter-length RNA complementary to the 3 half of CHS mRNA are able to affect flower pigmentation, while a gene encoding RNA complementary to the 5 half of CHS mRNA did not show phenotypic effects in transgenic petunia plants. We demonstrate that the RNA encoded by the latter gene has a much lower average steady-state level in leaf tissue than the RNAs encoded by the other antisense gene constructs. We have compared the CaMV 35S and endogenous CHS promoter strengths and intrinsic stabilities of sense and antisense CHS RNAs. From the data we conclude that the constitutive antisense CHS genes are not likely to provide an excess of antisense RNA compared to the CHS mRNA derived from the endogenous genes.Effective inhibition of flower pigmentation is also observed when the antisense CHS gene is under control of the homologous CHS promoter. The results indicate that the mechanism of antisense inhibition cannot solely operate via RNA duplex formation between sense and antisense RNA.     

The chalcone synthase multigene family of Petunia hybrida (V30): sequence homology,chromosomal localization and evolutionary aspects

Chalcone synthase (CHS) genes in Petunia hybrida comprise a multigene family containing at least 7 complete members in the strain Violet 30 (V30). Based on a high sequence homology in both coding and non-coding sequence, a number of CHS genes can be placed into two subfamilies. By restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis it was shown that both chromosomes II and V carry one of these subfamilies, in addition to the other CHS genes identified so far. Members of a subfamily were found to be closely linked genetically. Analysis of the Petunia species that contributed to the hybrid nature of P. hybrida (P. axillaris, P. parodii, P. inflata and P. violacea) shows that none of the CHS gene clusters is specific for either one of the parents and therefore did not arise as a consequence of the hybridization. The number of CHS genes within a subfamily varies considerably among these Petunia species. From this we infer that the CHS subfamilies arose from very recent gene duplications.     

The chalcone synthase multigene family of Petunia hybrida (V30): sequence homology,chromosomal localization and evolutionary aspects

Chalcone synthase (CHS) genes in Petunia hybrida comprise a multigene family containing at least 7 complete members in the strain Violet 30 (V30). Based on a high sequence homology in both coding and non-coding sequence, a number of CHS genes can be placed into two subfamilies. By restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis it was shown that both chromosomes II and V carry one of these subfamilies, in addition to the other CHS genes identified so far. Members of a subfamily were found to be closely linked genetically. Analysis of the Petunia species that contributed to the hybrid nature of P. hybrida (P. axillaris, P. parodii, P. inflata and P. violacea) shows that none of the CHS gene clusters is specific for either one of the parents and therefore did not arise as a consequence of the hybridization. The number of CHS genes within a subfamily varies considerably among these Petunia species. From this we infer that the CHS subfamilies arose from very recent gene duplications.     

银杏查尔酮合成酶基因表达的时间进程

查尔酮合成酶是银杏叶黄酮合成途径中的第一个关键酶。利用RACE技术克隆到银杏的一个查尔酮合成酶基因,命名为GbCHS2,其cDNA全长1608bp,包括长1173bp的读码框,编码391个氨基酸。GbCHS2蛋白与已从银杏克隆到的GbCHS1蛋白具有很高的同源性,并包含其所有相同的活性位点。用半定量RT-PCR方法研究了银杏叶生长过程中chs基因的转录水平的变化,并对CHS活性变化和黄酮含量的变化曲线进行了线性回归分析。结果显示,在整个银杏叶生长过程中,CHS活性与黄酮含量呈极显著线性相关,表明CHS是银杏叶黄酮合成途径中的一个关键限速酶;chs基因的转录水平的变化与黄酮的积累是同步的,chs基因的这种表达模式表明chs基因的转录水平可能决定了银杏叶黄酮的积累。     

转查尔酮合酶基因对烟草花色及花器官的影响

花色是重要的园艺性状,一直是育种工作者苦苦追求的目标。利用植物基因工程技术可定向改良花色。根据已知的CHS序列(序列号M20308.),用PCR方法从拟南芥中克隆CHS基因,并分别将其以正向、反向插入到真核表达载体pBI121,在农杆菌介导下用叶盘转化法转化烟草。对转基因烟草进行检测,结果表明,转基因烟草的花色变淡、花青素含量降低;叶片颜色变浅、叶绿素含量降低。转基因烟草花的形态也发生了明显变异。