Formation Of Anthocyanidins Research Articles

PhAN2 regulated Ph3GT silencing changes the flower color and anthocyanin content in petunias.

Anthocyanins are important secondary metabolites in plants. After the formation of anthocyanidins, Flavonoid 3-O-glucosyltransferase (3GT) mediated glycosylation first occurs at the C-3 site, forming a stable anthocyanin 3-O-glucoside. Several studies have investigated the function of 3GT using biochemical methods. However, it is necessary to provide further genetic evidence for the role of Ph3GT in petunia (Petunia hybrida). In addition, there is no information regarding the subcellular localization of Ph3GT and the regulation of transcription factors on Ph3GT. In this study, the full-length Ph3GT gene from petunia (Petunia hybrida) was isolated. We found that Ph3GT is localized in the cytoplasm. Ph3GT exhibited high expression levels in the corollas during the coloring period of petunia flowers. VIGS-mediated Ph3GT silencing resulted in a lighter corolla color and a significant decrease in the anthocyanin content in six petunia cultivars. The silencing of Ph3GT affected the expression levels of eight key genes in the anthocyanin synthesis pathway. Additionally, dual luciferase and yeast one-hybrid assays showed that R2R3-MYB transcription factor PhAN2 directly regulates the transcript of Ph3GT.

Coupling Hydrophilic Interaction Chromatography and Reverse-Phase Chromatography for Improved Direct Analysis of Grape Seed Proanthocyanidins.

Acid-catalyzed depolymerization is recognized as the most practical method for analyzing subunit composition and the polymerization degree of proanthocyanidins, involving purification by removing free flavan-3-ols, as well as acid-catalyzed cleavage and the identification of cleavage products. However, after the removal of proanthocyanidins with low molecular weights during purification, the formation of anthocyanidins from the extension subunits accompanying acid-catalyzed cleavage occurred. Thus, grape seed extract other than purified proanthocyanidins was applied to acid-catalyzed depolymerization. Hydrophilic interaction chromatography was developed to quantify free flavan-3-ols in grape seed extract to distinguish them from flavan-3-ols from terminal subunits of proanthocyanidins. Reverse-phase chromatography was used to analyze anthocyanidins and cleavage products at 550 and 280 nm, respectively. It is found that the defects of the recognized method did not influence the results of the subunit composition, but both altered the mean degree of polymerization. The established method was able to directly analyze proanthocyanidins in grape seed extract for higher accuracy and speed than the recognized method.

Oxidative Transformation of Leucocyanidin by Anthocyanidin Synthase from Vitis vinifera Leads Only to Quercetin.

Anthocyanidin synthase from Vitis vinifera ( VvANS) catalyzes the in vitro transformation of the natural isomer of leucocyanidin, 2 R,3 S,4 S- cis-leucocyanidin, into 2 R,4 S-flavan-3,3,4-triol ([M + H]+, m/ z 323) and quercetin. The C3-hydroxylation product 2 R,4 S-flavan-3,3,4-triol is first produced and its C3,C4-dehydration product is in tautomeric equilibrium with (+)-dihydroquercetin. The latter undergoes a second VvANS-catalyzed C3-hydroxylation leading to a 4-keto-2 R-flavan-3,3-gem-diol which upon dehydration gives quercetin. The unnatural isomer of leucocyanidin, 2 R,3 S,4 R- trans-leucocyanidin, is similarly transformed into quercetin upon C3,C4-dehydration, but unlike 3,4- cis-leucocyanidin, it also undergoes some C2,C3-dehydration followed by an acid-catalyzed hydroxyl group extrusion at C4 to give traces of cyanidin. Overall, the C3,C4- trans isomer of leucocyanidin is transformed into 2 R,4 R-flavan-3,3,4-triol (M + 1, m/ z 323), (+)-DHQ, (-)-epiDHQ, quercetin, and traces of cyanidin. Our data bring the first direct observation of 3,4- cis-leucocyanidin- and 3,4- trans-leucocyanidin-derived 3,3-gem-diols, supporting the idea that the generic function of ANS is to catalyze the C3-hydroxylation of its substrates. No cyanidin is produced with the natural cis isomer of leucocyanidin, and only traces with the unnatural trans isomer, which suggests that anthocyanidin synthase requires other substrate(s) for the in vivo formation of anthocyanidins.

The Reaumuria trigyna leucoanthocyanidin dioxygenase (RtLDOX) gene complements anthocyanidin synthesis and increases the salt tolerance potential of a transgenic Arabidopsis LDOX mutant

Reaumuria trigyna is a typical, native desert halophyte that grows under extreme conditions in Inner Mongolia. In a previous transcriptomic profiling analysis, flavonoid pathway-related genes in R. trigyna showed significant differences in transcript abundance under salt stress. Leucoanthocyanidin dioxygenase (LDOX, EC 1.14.11.19) is one of three dioxygenases in the flavonoid pathway that catalyzes the formation of anthocyanidins from leucoanthocyanidins. In this study, we cloned the full-length cDNA of R. trigyna LDOX (RtLDOX), and found RtLDOX recombinant protein was able to replace flavanone-3-hydroxylase (F3H, EC 1.14.11.9), another dioxygenase in the flavonoid pathway, to convert naringenin to dihydrokaempferol in vitro. R. trigyna LDOX can complement the Arabidopsis LDOX mutant transparent testa11 (tt11-11), which has reduced proanthocyanin (PA) and anthocyanin levels in seeds, to accumulate these two compounds. Thus, RtLDOX acts as a multifunctional dioxygenase to effect the synthesis of PA and anthocyanins and can perform F3H dioxygenase activities in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway. The RtLDOX promoter harbored many cis-acting elements that might be recognized and bound by transcription factors related to stress response. RtLDOX expression was strongly increased under salt stress, and RtLDOX transgenic Arabidopsis mutant under NaCl stress accumulated the content of flavonoids leading to an increased antioxidant activities and plant biomass. These results suggest that RtLDOX as a multifunctional dioxygenase in flavonoid biosynthesis involves in enhancing plant response to NaCl stress.

ChemInform Abstract: Multifunctional Flavonoid Dioxygenases: Flavonol and Anthocyanin Biosynthesis in Arabidopsis thaliana L.

AbstractReview: 95 refs.

Multifunctional flavonoid dioxygenases: Flavonol and anthocyanin biosynthesis in Arabidopsis thaliana L.

Flavonols and conditionally also anthocyanins, aside from flavonols, are the predominant polyphenols accumulated in various tissues of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana L. In vitro experiments suggested that the dioxygenases involved in their biosynthesis, flavonol synthase and anthocyanidin synthase, are "multifunctional" enzymes showing distinct side activities. The in vivo relevance of the additional activities attributed to these enzymes, however, has remained obscure. In this review we summarize the most recent results and present final proof of the complementing activities of these synthases for flavonol and anthocyanidin formation in the model plant A. thaliana. The impact of their modification on the biosynthetic pathway and the pattern of flavonoids in different plant tissues are discussed.

ENGINEERING STRAWBERRY ANTHOCYANIN LEVELS BY TRANSFORMATION WITH LATE FLAVONOID PATHWAY GENES

Flavonoids are widespread plant secondary metabolites involved in many functions such as pigmentation, protection from biotic and abiotic stress, and plant-environment interactions. The anthocyanin subclass comprises the most important plant pigments, responsible for orange, red and blue colours in plants and having antioxidant activity. The last steps of anthocyanidin biosynthesis involve dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR), catalysing the reduction of dihydroflavonols to leucoanthocyanidins, and anthocyanidin synthase (ANS), catalysing the formation of anthocyanidins. In this study, 35S-driven DFR and ANS constructs were introduced in two strawberry cultivars, 'Sveva' (June-bearing) and 'Calypso' (everbearing), by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. A gene stacking experiment (DFR+ANS) has also been performed by transforming one 'Sveva' DFR line with the ANS gene, under double kanamycin and hygromycin selection. Transgenic lines were obtained using leaf disk regeneration and kanamycin selection, then in vitro proliferated and acclimatized. Antibiotic-resistant clones were confirmed as transgenic plants by PCR detection.

Novel transgenic rice overexpressing anthocyanidin synthase accumulates a mixture of flavonoids leading to an increased antioxidant potential

In addition to their plant-associated functions, flavonoids act as antioxidants against harmful free radicals in animals. Genetic engineering of food crops for a mix of antioxidant flavonoids is highly beneficial in promoting human health. Anthocyanidin synthase (ANS) is one of the four dioxygenases (DOX) of the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway that catalyzes the formation of anthocyanidins from leucoanthocyanidins. To investigate whether ANS mediates different DOX reactions of the pathway and produces a mix of flavonoids, the rice ANS cDNA was cloned and overexpressed in a rice mutant Nootripathu (NP). This mutant accumulates proanthocyanidins exclusively in pericarp and absolutely no anthocyanins in any tissue. In silico sequence analysis revealed that ANS contains a double-stranded beta helix and shows high sequence similarity with other DOXs of the pathway including flavonol synthase, flavonone 3 β-hydroxylase and flavone synthase I. Bacterially expressed ANS protein converted dihydroquercetin to quercetin and Pro 35S:ANS complemented the maize a2 mutant in producing anthocyanins in aleurone, suggesting that ANS functions as a DOX with different flavonoid substrates. Similarly, transgenic NP plants overexpressing Pro MAS:ANS channeled the proanthocaynidin precursors to the production of anthocyanins in pericarp. Transgenics showed approximately ten and four-fold increase in the ANS transcripts and enzyme activity, respectively. As a result, these plants showed an increased accumulation of a mixture of flavonoids and anthocyanins, with a concomitant decrease in proanthocyanidins, suggesting that ANS may act directly on different flavonoid substrates of DOX reactions. Thus, overexpression of ANS in a rice mutant resulted in novel transgenic rice with a mixture of flavonoids and an enhanced antioxidant potential.

Structure and Mechanism of Anthocyanidin Synthase from Arabidopsis thaliana

Flavonoids are common colorants in plants and have long-established biomedicinal properties. Anthocyanidin synthase (ANS), a 2-oxoglutarate iron-dependent oxygenase, catalyzes the penultimate step in the biosynthesis of the anthocyanin class of flavonoids. The crystal structure of ANS reveals a multicomponent active site containing metal, cosubstrate, and two molecules of a substrate analog (dihydroquercetin). An additional structure obtained after 30 min exposure to dioxygen is consistent with the oxidation of the dihydroquercetin to quercetin and the concomitant decarboxylation of 2-oxoglutarate to succinate. Together with in vitro studies, the crystal structures suggest a mechanism for ANS-catalyzed anthocyanidin formation from the natural leucoanthocyanidin substrates involving stereoselective C-3 hydroxylation. The structure of ANS provides a template for the ubiquitous family of plant nonhaem oxygenases for future engineering and inhibition studies.

Direct evidence for anthocyanidin synthase as a 2-oxoglutarate-dependent oxygenase: molecular cloning and functional expression of cDNA from a red forma of Perilla frutescens.

Anthocyanidin synthase (ANS), an enzyme of the biosynthetic pathway to anthocyanin, has been postulated to catalyze the reaction(s) from the colorless leucoanthocyanidins to the colored anthocyanidins. Although cDNAs have been isolated that encode putative ANS, which exhibits significant similarities in amino acid sequence with members of a family of 2-oxoglutarate-dependent oxygenases, no biochemical evidence has been presented which identifies the actual reaction that is catalyzed by ANS. Here we show that anthocyanidins are formed in vitro through 2-oxoglutarate-dependent oxidation of leucoanthocyanidins catalyzed by the recombinant ANS and subsequent acid treatment. A cDNA encoding ANS was isolated from red and green formas of Perilla frutescens by differential display of mRNA. Recombinant ANS tagged with maltose-binding-protein (MBP) was purified, and the formation of anthocyanidins from leucoanthocyanidins was detected by the ANS-catalyzed reaction in the presence of ferrous ion, 2-oxoglutarate and ascorbate, being followed by acidification with HCI. Equimolar stoichiometry was confirmed for anthocyanidin formation and liberation of CO2 from 2-oxoglutarate. The presumptive two-copy gene of ANS was expressed in leaves and stems of the red forma of P. frutescens but not in the green forma plant. This corresponds to the accumulation pattern of anthocyanin. The mechanism of the reaction catalyzed by ANS is discussed in relation to the molecular evolution of a family of 2-oxoglutarate-dependent oxygenases.

The Condensed Tannin Content of a Range of Subtropical and Temperate Forages and the Reactivity of Condensed Tannin with Ribulose- 1,5-bis-phosphate Carboxylase (Rubisco) Protein

A series of subtropical grasses and temperate grasses, herbs and legumes were analysed for the presence of extractable and bound condensed tannin (CT) using colorimetric analysis by the butanol–HCl method. Condensed tannins are routinely purified using affinity chromatography with Sephadex LH-20 as a matrix. Therefore, Sephadex LH-20 extracts were further analysed for the presence of CT by 13C nuclear magnetic resonance, for anthocyanidin formation after butanol–HCl treatment and for their ability to precipitate ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (Rubisco) protein from lucerne, at pH 7·0. Criteria for the presence or absence of CT were defined. Trace amounts of CT (0·2–2·5 g kg−1 dry matter; DM) were identified and confirmed in summer grass (Digiteria sanguinalis), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and red clover (Trifolium pretense), with chicory (Chicorium intybus), lucerne (Medicago sativa) and plantain (Plantago lanceolata) identified as probably containing CT. It was concluded that the subtropical grasses kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum), paspalum (Paspalum diatatum), smooth witchgrass (Panicum dichotomiflorum) and crowfoot (Eleusine indica) and the temperate grass, Yorkshire fog (Holcus lanatus) probably did not contain CT. Analysis of the extractable fractions by vanillin–HCl gave higher values for CT than analysis by butanol–HCl and wrongly identified some forages as containing trace levels of CT. It was concluded that vanillin–HCl was not specific enough for the detection of trace levels of CT in forages. These results raise the possibility of plant selection programmes to increase the level of CT in grazed forages to approximately 5 g kg−1 DM, the suggested minimum level required to prevent bloat in cattle and to increase wool growth in sheep. It is suggested that this be considered for perennial ryegrass, chicory, red clover and lucerne.

The influence of proanthocyanidin-rich bean hulls and level of dietary protein on energy metabolizability and nutrient digestibility by adult cockerels.

Cotyledons and hulls were prepared from twelve varieties of field beans (Vicia faba L.). Adult cockerels were tube-fed either beans, cotyledons or hull diets containing high or low levels of protein. Metabolizable energy coefficients and starch digestibility coefficients were determined for beans, cotyledons and hull diets. Lipid digestibility coefficients from hull diets were also determined. When cotyledons were fed there were no significant differences in the way in which adult cockerels metabolized energy or digested starch from the proanthocyanidin-free and proanthocyanidin-rich varieties (0.780, 0.908, 0.775 and 0.918 respectively). When beans were fed, however, both energy metabolizability and starch digestibility decreased due to the presence of hulls, with proanthocyanidin-rich hulls decreasing values the most to 0.660 and 0.819 respectively, and proanthocyanidin-free hulls decreasing values to a lesser extent to 0.709 and 0.886 respectively. Diets composed of proanthocyanidin-rich hulls depressed metabolizable energy and maize starch digestibility. Their effect on maize starch digestibility, however, was considerably less than that on bean starch. Lipid digestibility was enhanced by proanthocyanidins but only when the protein content of the diet was high. There was a significant correlation (P < 0.05) between the vanillin and anthocyanidin formation methods for the estimation of proanthocyanidins (r 0.779). There was also a highly significant regression of bean starch digestibility v. proanthocyanidin content of coloured-flowered bean hulls (P < 0.001). The regression of maize starch digestibility v. hull proanthocyanidins was also significant at P < 0.005.

Tannins in wood: comparison of different estimation methods

In the case of proanthocyanidins, reaction with vanillin in the presence of sulfuric acid is more sensitive than estimation by anthocyanidin formation. It is more specific than the assay by formaldehyde precipitation. Reaction with nitrous acid affords a selective estimation of hexahydroxydiphenoyl esters. These methods are applied to tannin estimation in wood extracts of 5 gymnosperms and 12 angiosperms and the values obtained compared to total phenols amounts

Synthesis of condensed tannins. Part 14. Biflavanoid profisetinidins as synthons. The Acid-induced ‘phlobaphene’ reaction

Free-phenolic [4,6]- and [4,8]-2,3-trans-(–)-fisetinidol-(+)-catechin diastereoisomers of both 3,4-trans and 3,4-cis configuration, which serve as synthons for higher oligomers, are available in improved yields from direct condensation, and also via novel 6-iodo-(+)-catechin as an intermediate substrate. Acid-induced transformations of the predominant [4,8]-all-trans isomer, illustrative of the well-known ‘phlobaphene reaction’ of condensed tannins, is shown to include ring-isomerization and fission of the inter-flavanoid bond, followed in the latter instance by the alternatives of anthocyanidin formation, positional rearrangement and self-condensation.

Somatic crossing-over in Antirrhinum majus

Many aberrant somatic sectors on the corollas of heterozygous Antirrhinum majus can be related to a number of genetic causes while twin-spots are attributed to somatic crossing-over, hitherto, considered a relatively rare occurrence in higher plants. The administration of caffeine increases the frequency of single aberrant sites and also of twin-spots. The inclusion of the unstable genes nivea-recurrens and pallida-recurrens has no effect on the frequency of twin-spots. Homozygosity following somatic crossing-over is presumed for several loci and some evidence is presented for deficiency aberrations. The use of precise precursors in the biosynthetic pathway to anthocyanidin formation provided confirmatory evidence for the identification of the genes involved in the somatic aberrations.

Plant proanthocyanidins. Part 4. Biosynthesis of procyanidins and observations on the metabolism of cyanidin in plants

Evidence based on the results of feeding experiments with labelled (3H,14C) cinnamic acids is presented to show that the various procyanidin dimers are biosynthesised from two metabolically distinct units. One is the flavan-3-ol [(+)-catechin (10) or (–)-epicatechin (9)] and the other is the C-4 carbocation (7) or (8). It is postulated that the carbocations are derived by protonation of the flav-3-en-3-ol (6) and are intermediates in the reduction to the flavan-3-ols (9) and (10). The relationship of procyanidin biosynthesis to anthocyanidin formation in certain plants is briefly discussed.

Flavan derivatives. XVII. Epimerization of the benzylic 4-hydroxyl group in flavan-3,4-diols and the formation of 4-alkyl ethers by solvolysis

Epimerization and solvolysis of the benzylic 4-hydroxyl group is shown to be a general property of flavan-3,4-diols, and the diols give 4- ethoxyflavan-3-ols with ethanolic hydrochloric acid (1%). The diols are first converted into epimeric mixtures of 3,4-cis- and 3,4-trans-diols and in aqueous media cis-cis-flavan-3,4-diols yield mainly 2,3-cis-3,4- trans-diols. These 2,3-cis-3,4-diols undergo solvolysis to yield 2,3- cis-3,4-trans-4-ethoxyflavan-3-ols in which the 3,4-trans- stereochemistry is controlled by participation of the neighbouring 3ax- hydroxyl group. 2,3-trans-Flavan-3,4-diols give mixtures of trans- trans-diols and 2,3-trans-3,4-cis-diols and solvolysis first yields 2.3-trans-3,4-cis-4-ethoxyflavan-3-ols and then mixtures of the 3,4- cis- and 3,4-trans-ethers; the final proportion of these two ethers is controlled by thermodynamic factors. Solvolysis under mild conditions gives minor products considered to be 3-oxoflavans (or their enols) because of their immediate conversion into antho-cyanidins by cold acids in the presence of air, and from the formation of an enol-ether on prolonged solvolysis under more vigorous conditions. The relevance of these observations to the mechanism of formation of anthocyanidins from flavan-3,4-diols is discussed. Other by-products of solvolysis reactions include a dimeric cyclic ether (dioxan derivative) of 2,3- trans-3,4-cis-7,8,4?-trimethoxyflavan-3,4-diol. The structure and stereochemistry of solvolysis products were established by N.M.R. data; the 4-ethoxyl group in the ethers generally gave rise to an ABX3 multiplet.

Corrigenda - Flavan derivatives. XVII. Epimerization of the benzylic 4-hydroxyl group in flavan-3,4-diols and the formation of 4-alkyl ethers by solvolysis

Epimerization and solvolysis of the benzylic 4-hydroxyl group is shown to be a general property of flavan-3,4-diols, and the diols give 4- ethoxyflavan-3-ols with ethanolic hydrochloric acid (1%). The diols are first converted into epimeric mixtures of 3,4-cis- and 3,4-trans-diols and in aqueous media cis-cis-flavan-3,4-diols yield mainly 2,3-cis-3,4- trans-diols. These 2,3-cis-3,4-diols undergo solvolysis to yield 2,3- cis-3,4-trans-4-ethoxyflavan-3-ols in which the 3,4-trans- stereochemistry is controlled by participation of the neighbouring 3ax- hydroxyl group. 2,3-trans-Flavan-3,4-diols give mixtures of trans- trans-diols and 2,3-trans-3,4-cis-diols and solvolysis first yields 2.3-trans-3,4-cis-4-ethoxyflavan-3-ols and then mixtures of the 3,4- cis- and 3,4-trans-ethers; the final proportion of these two ethers is controlled by thermodynamic factors. Solvolysis under mild conditions gives minor products considered to be 3-oxoflavans (or their enols) because of their immediate conversion into antho-cyanidins by cold acids in the presence of air, and from the formation of an enol-ether on prolonged solvolysis under more vigorous conditions. The relevance of these observations to the mechanism of formation of anthocyanidins from flavan-3,4-diols is discussed. Other by-products of solvolysis reactions include a dimeric cyclic ether (dioxan derivative) of 2,3- trans-3,4-cis-7,8,4?-trimethoxyflavan-3,4-diol. The structure and stereochemistry of solvolysis products were established by N.M.R. data; the 4-ethoxyl group in the ethers generally gave rise to an ABX3 multiplet.

Mechanism of Formation of Anthocyanidins from Leucoanthocyani(di)ns

BASED mainly on suggestions made earlier by Robinson and Robinson1 for their hypothetical leuco-anthocyanin (flavan-2.3.4-triol), the conversion of flavan-3.4-diols (I) into anthocyanidins by similar mechanism has been discussed by Bate-Smith2, Bauer, Birch and Hillis3 and by King and Clark-Lewis4. The reaction, induced by hydrochloric acid, was regarded as a dehydration of the 3.4-diol group on the heterocyelic ring (loss of hydroxyl at 4 and hydrogen at 3), followed by oxidation2–4 or by disproportionation3,4.