Effects of UV-A radiation on organ-specific accumulation and gene expression of isoflavones and flavonols in soybean sprout

Abstract

Organ-specific flavonoid destination in soybean sprouts following UV irradiation is still unclear although the metabolic pathway of flavonoid synthesis and UV responded flavonoid accumulation have been well investigated. We report the identification of organ-specific localization and specific gene expression of isoflavones and kaempferol glycosides in the soybean sprouts responded to UV-A irradiation. UV-A irradiation stimulated only root isoflavones, especially increase of genistein types. The daidzein types predominated in non-UV-A treated roots. Kaempferol glycosides were not increased in roots by UV-A, but distinctly increased in aerial organs, especially in the cotyledons. These results demonstrate that UV-A upregulates the naringenin pathway synthesizing genistin and kaempferol rather than the liquiritigenin pathway synthesizing daidzin and glycitin. High GmUGT9 and other gene expression related to isoflavone synthesis in roots clearly demonstrate the UV-A-induced isoflavone accumulation. Aerial organ specific increase of GmF3H, GmFLS1, and GmDFR1 expression by UV-A distinctly demonstrates the flavonol increase in aerial organs.