The WRKY Transcription Factor CsWRKY70 Regulates EGCG Biosynthesis by Affecting CsLAR and CsUGT84A Expressions in Tea Leaves (Camellia sinensis)

Abstract

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is an important contributor to bitterness and astringency in summer tea leaves; however, the transcriptional regulatory mechanisms of EGCG biosynthesis remain unclear. In this study, EGCG content was significantly decreased after foliar spraying with nano-Se fertilizers in tea leaves. A WRKY transcription factor (TF), CsWRKY70, was found to be positively related to EGCG content. The open reading frame of CsWRKY70 was 891 bp encoding 296 amino acids. CsWRKY70 is localized to the nucleus and has transcriptional activation activity. The electrophoretic mobility shift assay indicated that CsWRKY70 can directly bind to the promoters of CsLAR and CsUGT84A containing W-box (5′-C/TTGACT/C-3′) sequences. Dual-luciferase reporter experiment verified that CsWRKY70 activated CsLAR and CsUGT84A expressions in tobacco leaves. In summary, these results demonstrated that CsWRKY70 may reduce EGCG biosynthesis by inhibiting the CsLAR and CsUGT84A expressions under nano-Se treatment. Our findings provide new insight into the regulatory mechanism of WRKY TFs involved in catechin biosynthesis and offer a theoretical basis for breeding low or high EGCG content tea cultivars.