Light induced changes in anthocyanin concentration, activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and flavanone synthase and some of their properties in Brassica oleracea

Abstract

Seedlings of red cabbage, Brassica oleracea cv Red Danish, germinated in the dark, rapidly produced anthocyanins upon illumination. The anthocyanin production increased up to six days of illumination time. The activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase increased rapidly in illuminated seedlings to a maximum at 8 hr and declined thereafter to dark levels. During this period the activity of flavanone synthase, the first enzyme responsible for the establishment of C 15 flavonoid skeleton, paralleled that of the anthocyanin concentration. The crude flavanone synthase has a pH optimum at around 8, a molecular weight of ca 120 000, and is able to utilize only p-coumaryl-CoA as co-substrate for the production of flavonoids.