Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Central Role of the Transcription Factor MYB in Regulating Anthocyanin Accumulation in Economic Grape Species (Vitis vinifera)

Abstract

To cultivate different grape varieties according to market needs, it is necessary to study the regulation mechanism of color changes in different development stages of grapes. In this study, RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) technology was used to compare and analyze the transcriptome data of four grape varieties at the same development stage. Among the annotated differential genes, the anthocyanin synthesis pathway in the flavonoid pathway was mainly studied. Further RT-qPCR analysis of key enzyme genes, in the flavonoid synthesis pathway of the anthocyanin metabolism pathway, showed that the MYB transcription factor family had binding sites at the start of the four enzyme genes. The relative expression of the MYB transcription factor and enzyme gene in the transcriptome data was verified by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Subcellular localization and gene function verification of the transcription factor MYB2 confirmed its regulatory role in anthocyanins.