Chalcone Synthase Gene Expression Research Articles

Characterization of SBZ1, a soybean bZIP protein that binds to the chalcone synthase gene promoter

Several plant basic leucine zipper (bZIP) proteins have been shown to play a role in chalcone synthase (CHS) gene expression, and some are regulated by phosphorylation/dephosphorylation. We isolated SBZ1 (Soybean bZIP protein 1) and showed that the recombinant protein binds in vitro to the 5� region of soybean CHS1, at a sequence that confers the elicitor-inducible expression of CHS genes. The deduced amino acid sequence of SBZ1 has features characteristic of bZIP transcription factors, including a highly basic putative DNA-binding domain containing a nuclear localization sequence, as well as four domains designated D1-D4 that are highly conserved among the subfamily of bZIP factors, which includes tobacco BZI-1 and parsley CPRF2. The presence of these regions indicates that SBZ1 is a CPRF2-related bZIP transcription factor. The protein kinase inhibitor K252a blocks CHS induction in elicited soybean cells, suggesting that protein phosphorylation is involved in induction of the CHS signal pathway. Phosphorylation assays indicated that SBZ1 is phosphorylated in vitro in a soybean cell extract, and that this phosphorylation depends on Ca 2� . Furthermore, recombinant soybean CDPK and the a subunit of CKII phosphorylate SBZ1 in vitro. However, unlike other related bZIP proteins, phosphorylation had no effect on either the DNA-binding activity of SBZ1. Therefore, we conclude that SBZ1 is regulated by phosphorylation, but in a different manner than are related bZIP factors.

Treatment of chickpea with Rhizobium isolates enhances the expression of phenylpropanoid defense-related genes in response to infection by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris

Differential expression of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), chalcone synthase (CHS) and isoflavone reductase (IFR) genes involved in phenylpropanoids metabolism was investigated using Northern blot analyses in chickpea seedlings bacterized with Rhizobium isolates (PchDMS and Pch43) and further challenged with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris (Foc) race 0. Gene activation patterns in the moderately resistant accession INRAT87/1 were compared with those exhibited by the susceptible accession ILC482 at various time intervals after inoculation with Foc, to determine whether differences in levels or timing of transcript accumulation could be correlated with differences in the susceptibility of chickpea accessions to Foc. Gene activation was higher in the moderately resistant accession INRAT87/1 than in the susceptible ILC482. Pre-treatment of chickpea seedlings with Rhizobium isolates before inoculation with the pathogen enhanced the accumulation of the three genes’ mRNA transcripts. In parallel, changes in the soluble phenolic pool produced through pathways involving these enzymes were analyzed in chickpea roots. A strong accumulation of these compounds was revealed at 72 hpi in both accessions. After that time, these high levels of phenolic compounds were maintained until the end of the experiment in the moderately resistant accession, while they have significantly declined in the susceptible accession. HPLC analyses revealed a very high accumulation of the constitutive isoflavones, formononetin and biochanin A and their glycoside conjugates in chickpea roots inoculated with Rhizobium isolates and/or challenged with Foc, as compared to the controls. Our results suggest that the increased accumulation of phenolic compounds, observed in chickpea seedlings inoculated with Foc, can be attributed to increased expression of genes in the phenylpropanoid pathway and that such gene expression is enhanced by pre-treatment with Rhizobium isolates.

Ultraviolet A-specific induction of anthocyanin biosynthesis in the swollen hypocotyls of turnip (Brassica rapa)

Ultraviolet A (UV-A)-mediated regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis was investigated in swollen hypocotyls of the red turnip 'Tsuda'. The shaded swollen hypocotyls which contained negligible anthocyanin were exposed to artificial light sources including low fluence UV-B, UV-A, blue, red, far-red, red plus UV-A, far-red plus UV-A, and blue plus red. Among these lights, only UV-A induced anthocyanin biosynthesis and co-irradiation of red or far-red with UV-A did not affect the extent of UV-A-induced anthocyanin accumulation. The expression of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL; EC 4.3.1.5), chalcone synthase (CHS; EC 2.3.1.74), flavanone 3-hydroxylase (F3H; EC 1.14.11.9), dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR; EC 1.1.1.219), and anthocyanidin synthase (ANS; EC 1.14.11.19) genes was increased with time during a 24 h exposure to UV-A. In contrast, irradiation with red, blue, UV-B, and a combination of blue with red failed to induce CHS expression. Microarray analysis showed that only a few genes, including CHS and F3H, were induced significantly by UV-A, while a separate set of many genes was induced by low fluence UV-B. The UV-A-specific induction of anthocyanin biosynthesis and the unique gene expression profile upon UV-A irradiation as compared with blue and UV-B demonstrated that the observed induction of anthocyanin biosynthesis in red turnips was mediated by a distinct UV-A-specific photoreceptor, but not by phytochromes, UV-A/blue photoreceptors, or UV-B photoreceptors.

Genes up-regulated during red coloration in UV-B irradiated lettuce leaves.

Molecular analysis of gene expression differences between green and red lettuce leaves was performed using the SSH method. BlastX comparisons of subtractive expressed sequence tags (ESTs) indicated that 7.6% of clones encoded enzymes involved in secondary metabolism. Such clones had a particularly high abundance of flavonoid-metabolism proteins (6.5%). Following SSH, 566 clones were rescreened for differential gene expression using dot-blot hybridization. Of these, 53 were found to overexpressed during red coloration. The up-regulated expression of six genes was confirmed by Northern blot analyses. The expression of chalcone synthase (CHS), flavanone 3-hydroxylase (F3H), and dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR) genes showed a positive correlation with anthocyanin accumulation in UV-B-irradiated lettuce leaves; flavonoid 3',5'-hydroxylase (F3',5'H) and anthocyanidin synthase (ANS) were expressed continuously in both samples. These results indicated that the genes CHS, F3H, and DFR coincided with increases in anthocyanin accumulation during the red coloration of lettuce leaves. This study show a relationship between red coloration and the expression of up-regulated genes in lettuce. The subtractive cDNA library and EST database described in this study represent a valuable resource for further research for secondary metabolism in the vegetable crops.

Salicylic Acid Enhances Jaceosidin and Syringin Production in Cell Cultures of Saussurea medusa

Addition of 20 muM salicylic acid to Saussurea medusa cell cultures at day 6 resulted in jaceosidin and syringin productions up to 95 mg l(-1 )and 631 mg l(-1) which were, respectively, about 2.5- and 2.7-fold higher than in the control. The biomass was increased from 8 to 12 g l(-1). Expression of chalcone synthase gene (chs) increased sharply after 12 h treatment and was sustained up to 48 h; chalcone isomerase gene (chi) expression reached a peak at 24 h and decreased after 48 h; and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity increased by 7.5-fold (96 U mg(-1) protein) higher than in the control after 24 h. These results indicate that salicylic acid enhances the production of jaceosidin and syringin which is accompanied by induction of the related phenylpropanoid biosynthetic enzymes.

Comparative Structural and Functional Characterization of Sorghum and Maize Duplications Containing Orthologous Myb Transcription Regulators of 3-Deoxyflavonoid Biosynthesis

Sequence characterization of the genomic region of sorghum yellow seed 1 shows the presence of two genes that are arranged in a head to tail orientation. The two duplicated gene copies, y1 and y2 are separated by a 9.084 kbp intergenic region, which is largely composed of highly repetitive sequences. The y1 is the functional copy, while the y2 may represent a pseudogene; there are several sequence indels and rearrangements within the putative coding region of y2. The y1 gene encodes a R2R3 type of Myb domain protein that regulates the expression of chalcone synthase, chalcone isomerase and dihydroflavonol reductase genes required for the biosynthesis of 3-deoxyflavonoids. Expression of y1 can be observed throughout the plant and it represents a combination of expression patterns produced by different alleles of the maize p1. Comparative sequence analysis within the coding regions and flanking sequences of y1, y2 and their maize and teosinte orthologs show local rearrangements and insertions that may have created modified regulatory regions. These micro-colinearity modifications possibly are responsible for differential patterns of expression in maize and sorghum floral and vegetative tissues. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that sorghum y1 and y2 sequences may have arisen by gene duplication mechanisms and represent an evolutionarily parallel event to the duplication of maize p2 and p1 genes.

Effects of UV-B in biological and chemical systems: Equipment for wavelength dependence determination

The thinning of the stratospheric ozone layer has prompted a large number of studies of UV-B-induced effects in biological and chemical systems. The wavelength dependency of such effects is of interest from mechanistic, physiological or economic points of view. Here, we describe an apparatus for determining the wavelength dependency of UV-B effects in biological and chemical systems. The apparatus consists of a high intensity UV radiation source and narrow bandpass filters to produce UV radiation in even intervals (between 280 and 360 nm). The usefulness of the equipment is demonstrated in two different systems: 1) Chalcone synthase (CHS) gene is up-regulated by UV-B radiation. Therefore quantitative analysis of the CHS gene expression was chosen in the present investigation for studies of the wavelength dependency of gene expression regulation in plants. Maximum induction of CHS expression was found at 300 nm with a 12-fold induction compared with the control; 2) The wavelength dependency of formation of dioxin-like photoproducts from the brominated flame retardant decabrominated diphenyl ether (DeBDE) is described. This is an example of UV-B-induced conversion of non-toxic species into a number of products of which some may be toxic in the environment. In the UV interval studied, the highest dioxin-like activity was found in the sample irradiated at 330 nm and therefore this wavelength is most important for the mechanism involved in photoconversion of DeBDE.

Decreased anthocyanin biosynthesis in grape berries grown under elevated night temperature condition

In grape cultivation, high night temperature generally reduces anthocyanin accumulation in berry skin. To clarify the regulatory mechanism of anthocyanin biosynthesis under the conditions of high night temperatures, we examined flavonoid accumulation, the activities of related enzymes and gene expression in the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway in grape berries grown under cool and warm night conditions. Anthocyanin accumulation in the skin of berries grown at high night temperatures (30 °C continuous) was reduced as compared to that of berries grown at low night temperatures (30 °C in daytime/15 °C in night time). On the other hand, flavonol levels in the skin of berries were not significantly different between low and high night temperature conditions. High night temperatures also inhibited the gene expression of chalcone synthase ( CHS), flavanone 3-hydroxylase ( F3H), dihydroflavonol 4-reductase ( DFR), leucoanthocyanidin dioxygenase ( LDOX) and UDP-glucose: flavonoid 3-O-glucosyltransferase ( UFGT) at veraison and an increase in UFGT activity after veraison. These results suggest that the inhibition of anthocyanin biosynthesis in grape berries grown under high night temperature condition could be caused by lower expression levels of anthocyanin biosynthetic genes at an early stage of ripening and lower activities of anthocyanin biosynthetic enzymes, particularly UFGT.

Characterization and expression of chalcone synthase gene from Ginkgo biloba

The genomic DNA sequence of chalcone synthase (CHS) gene was cloned from Ginkgo biloba. The Gbchs was 1295 bp long and composed of two exons and one intron, one of the typical features of chalcone synthase genes. The genomic Southern blot analysis indicated that Gbchs belonged to a multigene family. RT-PCR analyses revealed that Gbchs expressed differentially in the root, stem and leaf tissues of G. biloba, and the expression was induced by UV-B and wounding treatments. The recombinant GbCHS protein was successfully expressed in Escherichia coli strain M15 [pREP4] with pQE30 vector and the result showed that the expressed GbCHS protein had molecular weight of about 42 kDa, a size matching that of the predicted by bioinformatic analysis. This study provides useful information for further studying this gene and its function in ginkgo flavonoids biosynthetic pathway in G. biloba, the so-called “living fossil” plant possessing many pharmaceutical properties for human health.

The role of light in the regulation of anthocyanin accumulation in Gerbera hybrida

In the present work, the pigmentation regulated by light was investigated in ray floret (rf) of Gerbera hybrida. When inflorescences from stage 1 were covered with aluminium foil in vivo the pigmentation of the rf petals was strongly blocked and the gene expression of CHS (Chalcone synthase) and DFR (Dihydroflavonol-4-reductase) was inhibited. Similar results were obtained when the detached rfs were cultured in vitro. Covering of the leaves on the plants resulted in reduced pigmentation compared with the covering of inflorescences in vivo. Removal of the green bracts did not affect the pigmentation significantly and the anthocyanin concentration was maintained at a level similar to that of the control. The ultrastructure of the plastids in rf petals was examined to investigate the possible role of photosynthesis in light regulation of flower pigmentation. Plastids within rf epidermal cells showed a characteristic chloroplast morphology in flowers at stage 2, which deteriorated by stage 3. They then changed to a chromoplast-like structure in fully opened rf petals (stage 6). Similar chromoplast-like structures were observed in the plastids of the rf petals from inflorescences both shaded in vivo and in vitro. Additionally, DCMU, a photosynthetic inhibitor, did not show a significant effect on light-induced anthocyanin accumulation. Our data suggest that light is an important factor for pigmentation of rf petal in Gerbera and the petal itself acts as a light sensor site to perceive the light signal. From the different light qualities evaluated, blue light promoted gene expression of CHS and DFR, and red light enhanced the gene expression of CHS, indicating the photoreceptors responding to blue and red light involved in the photoregulation of flower pigmentation in Gerbera.

Genetic elucidation of nitric oxide signaling in incompatible plant-pathogen interactions.

Recent experiments indicate that nitric oxide (NO) plays a pivotal role in disease resistance and several other physiological processes in plants. However, most of the current information about the function of NO in plants is based on pharmacological studies, and additional approaches are therefore required to ascertain the role of NO as an important signaling molecule in plants. We have expressed a bacterial nitric oxide dioxygenase (NOD) in Arabidopsis plants and/or avirulent Pseudomonas syringae pv tomato to study incompatible plant-pathogen interactions impaired in NO signaling. NOD expression in transgenic Arabidopsis resulted in decreased NO levels in planta and attenuated a pathogen-induced NO burst. Moreover, NOD expression in plant cells had very similar effects on plant defenses compared to NOD expression in avirulent Pseudomonas. The defense responses most affected by NO reduction during the incompatible interaction were decreased H(2)O(2) levels during the oxidative burst and a blockage of Phe ammonia lyase expression, the key enzyme in the general phenylpropanoid pathway. Expression of the NOD furthermore blocked UV light-induced Phe ammonia lyase and chalcone synthase gene expression, indicating a general signaling function of NO in the activation of the phenylpropanoid pathway. NO possibly functions in incompatible plant-pathogen interactions by inhibiting the plant antioxidative machinery, and thereby ensuring locally prolonged H(2)O(2) levels. Additionally, albeit to a lesser extent, we observed decreases in salicylic acid production, a diminished development of hypersensitive cell death, and a delay in pathogenesis-related protein 1 expression during these NO-deficient plant-pathogen interactions. Therefore, this genetic approach confirms that NO is an important regulatory component in the signaling network of plant defense responses.

포도 세포현탁배양계에서 Phytochrome 신호전달에 의해 조절되는 안토시아닌 생합성

포도 현탁배양계를 이용하여 안토시아닌 생합성 경로에 관여하는 phytochrome 신호 전달에 관하여 연구하였다. 그 결과 세포의 생중량과 세포수의 생장은 배양 시 광의 유무 및 단색광의 종류와 관계없이 배양 4일째부터 8일째까지 급격히 증가하였고 8일 이후부터 정상기에 들어서서 최대 생장을 보였다. 그러나 안토시아닌 색소 축적은 청색광에서 가장 높은 효과를 나타내었으며 적색광에서도 높았으나 원적색광하에서는 암소같이 색소생성이 억제되었다. 배양시기에 따른 색소생성에 미치는 광 조사의 효과는 대수증가기인 배양4일째에 조사한 단색광간에 차이가 인정되지 않았으나, 정상기인 배양 7일째 조사한 단색광의 효과는 그 종류에 따라 색소 축적 패턴에 큰 차이를 나타내는 것으로 보아 배양 7일째가 효과적이었다. Phytochrome의 광가역적 효과를 알아보기 위하여 암배양 7일째세포에 다양한 조건의 단색광 (B/R, B/FR, B/R/FR)을 가역적으로 처리했을 경우, 청색광 단독 처리한 구와 비슷한 양의 색소 축적양상을 보였으며, B/R/R 조건의 단색광이 가역적으로 처리된 세포주에서 가장 많은 색소 축적을 보였다. 그러나 배양 7일째 R/FR 광가역 처리시에는 적색광 단독 처리에 비해 색소 축적이 억제되었으나, R/FR/R 가역처리시에는 적색광의 색소 축적양과 동일한 수준으로 회복되었다. 안토시아닌 생합성의 주요효소인 PAL과 CHS의 발현분석에서 PAL의 발현은 7일째 청색광이 처리된 세포주에서 조금 증가하는 현상을 보였으나, 적색광과 근적외광 처리구에서는 거의 반응이 없었다. CHS의 발현은 단색광 처리에서 높은 변화를 보였으며, 광을 처리한 7일째 높은 발현을 보이다 12일 이후 다시 증가하는 패턴을 보였다. 또한 적색광과 원적색광이 가역적으로 처리된 세포주에서 CHS 발현양도 가역적으로 증가하였다. PHYA와 PHYB는 포도세포에서 단일유전자로 존재하였으며, 단색광 처리에 따라 색소축적이 이루어질 때 이들 이들 두 유전자의 발현도 증가하였다. This experiment was carried out to confirm that phytochrome regulates anthocyanin bio-synthesis during cell suspension culture system of grape or not. In suspension culture of grape, maximum accumulation of anthocyanin was observed at the stationary phase under continuous white light condition. From mono-chromatic light interruption for 24h at the 4th or 7th day on the suspension cultured cells, the anthocyanin accumulation was highly enhanced at the light interruption at 7th day than 4th day under all monochromatic light treatment. However, the cell growth patterns were not affected by any light treatment. In the darkness, the anthocyanin synthesis was very low but remarkably increased by blue light or red light irradiation. However, the increase of anthocyanin accumulation by blue or red light was suppressed by far-red light in the suspension cells of grape. This suppression by far-red light on the anthocyanin synthesis also observed on the cells treated red or far-red light alternatively. These results implied that phytochrome regulation system may be involved in the anthocyanin biosynthesis of the suspension grape cells. By RNA expression analysis, chalcone synthase (CHS) gene was expressed highly by blue and red light but low by far-red light. The synergistic increase of CHS gene expression was also observed at the treatment of blue light followed by red for 24h. This result may explain the increase of anthocyanin accumulation in B/R treatment. Although the expression of phytochrome gene (PHYA or PHYB) was not highly increased by all light treatment (blue, red, and far-red light) the expression of both PHYA gene and PHYB gene was increased a little in cells treated red or far-red light. In grape suspension cells, the red light enhanced the anthocyanin synthesis, whereas the far-red light was suppressed. Although it was not confirmed whether or not phytochrome gene is activated in anthocyanin accumulating grape cells, we believed that anthocyanin biosynthesis in grape cells may be regulated under phytochrome signal transduction system.

Hypercyst mutants in Rhodospirillum centenum identify regulatory loci involved in cyst cell differentiation.

Rhodospirillum centenum is a purple photosynthetic bacterium that forms resting cyst cells when starved for nutrients. In this study, we demonstrate that chalcone synthase gene (chsA) expression is developmentally regulated, with expression of chsA increasing up to 86-fold upon induction of the cyst developmental cycle. Screening for mini-Tn5-induced mutants that exhibit elevated chsA::lacZ expression has led to the isolation of a set of R. centenum mutants that display increased chsA gene expression concomitant with constitutive induction of the cyst developmental cycle. These "hypercyst" mutants have lost the ability to regulate cyst cell formation in response to nutrient availability. Sequence analysis indicates that the mini-Tn5-disrupted genes code for a variety of factors, including metabolic enzymes and a large set of potential regulatory factors, including four gene products with homology to histidine sensor kinases and three with homology to response regulators. Several of the disrupted genes also have sequence similarity to che-like signal transduction components.

Tissue-specific gene silencing mediated by a naturally occurring chalcone synthase gene cluster in Glycine max.

Chalcone synthase, a key regulatory enzyme in the flavonoid pathway, constitutes an eight-member gene family in Glycine max (soybean). Three of the chalcone synthase (CHS) gene family members are arranged as inverted repeats in a 10-kb region, corresponding to the I locus (inhibitor). Spontaneous mutations of a dominant allele (I or i(i)) to a recessive allele (i) have been shown to delete promoter sequences, paradoxically increasing total CHS transcript levels and resulting in black seed coats. However, it is not known which of the gene family members contribute toward pigmentation and how this locus affects CHS expression in other tissues. We investigated the unusual nature of the I locus using four pairs of isogenic lines differing with respect to alleles of the I locus. RNA gel blots using a generic open reading frame CHS probe detected similar CHS transcript levels in stems, roots, leaves, young pods, and cotyledons of the yellow and black isolines but not in the seed coats, which is consistent with the dominant I and i(i) alleles mediating CHS gene silencing in a tissue-specific manner. Using real-time RT-PCR, a variable pattern of expression of CHS genes in different tissues was demonstrated. However, increase in pigmentation in the black seed coats was associated with release of the silencing effect specifically on CHS7/CHS8, which occurred at all stages of seed coat development. These expression changes were linked to structural changes taking place at the I locus, shown to encompass a much wider region of at least 27 kb, comprising two identical 10.91-kb stretches of CHS gene duplications. The suppressive effect of this 27-kb I locus in a specific tissue of the G. max plant represents a unique endogenous gene silencing mechanism.

ROLE OF CHALCONE SYNTHASE AND DIHYDROFLAVONOL REDUCTASE IN LIGHT DEPENDENT ACCUMULATION OF ANTHOCYANINS IN ´TOYONOKA´ STRAWBERRY FRUITS

The effects of light intensity perceived by the fruit surface on anthocyanin biosynthesis were compared between 'Nyoho' and 'Toyonoka' strawberries. Fruit of 'Toyonoka' was collected at green fruit stage (G; 2 weeks after anthesis), white fruit stage (W; about 3 weeks after anthesis), onset of pigmentation (OP; 1-2 days after white fruit stage), pink fruit stage (P; 3-4 days after white fruit stage), and full pigmentation stage (FP; 8 days after white fruit stage). The expression of chalcone synthase (CHS) gene was highest at G stage, but remained present during pigmentation. The expression of dihyroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR) gene was low at OP stage and then increased as fruit pigmented. This suggested that DFR but not CHS is involved in developmental regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis. When fruit of 'Toyonoka' were shaded by wrapping with aluminum foil after W stage, the accumulation of anthocyanin was remarkably reduced. In contrast, shading of 'Nyoho' fruits after W stage did not reduce anthocyanin accumulation. Northern blot analysis showed that the expression of both genes was not affected by fruit shading, suggesting that both CHS and DFR are not involved in light dependent biosynthesis of anthocyanin in 'Toyonoka' strawberry fruits.

Spatial and temporal expression of chalcone synthase and dihydroflavonol 4-reductase genes in the Asiatic hybrid lily

cDNA clones of three chalcone synthase (CHS) genes ( LhCHSA, LhCHSB and LhCHSC) and one dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR) gene ( LhDFR) were isolated, and spatial and temporal expression of these genes was analyzed for two Asiatic hybrid lily cultivars, ‘Montreux’ (pink tepals with spots) and ‘Connecticut King’ (yellow tepals without spots). Pink tepals and tepal spots contain the same kind of anthocyanin, and yellow tepals have no anthocyanin. In both cultivars, the expression of all four genes was not detected in unpigmented leaves, stems and white bulbscales, but was detected in anthocyanin pigmentation-induced bulbscales, indicating that these genes are transcriptionally active in both cultivars. In flower organs, three CHS genes were expressed in anthocyanin-pigmented tepals, filaments and pistils of ‘Montreux’, and in unpigmented filaments and pistils of ‘Connecticut King’. Pigmented anthers accumulated only LhCHSC mRNA in both cultivars. LhDFR was abundantly expressed in pigmented tepals, anthers, filaments and pistils of ‘Montreux’, and in pigmented anthers of ‘Connecticut King’. These results indicate that different expression of these genes, especially of the LhDFR gene, controls the distinct pigmentation pattern in flower organs in both cultivars. In three F 1 plants with many spots on yellow or white tepals, derived from a cross between ‘Montreux’ and ‘Connecticut King’, anthocyanin accumulation in tepal spots was accompanied by the LhCHSA and LhDFR expression, indicating that the expression of CHS and DFR genes is independently controlled between tepals and tepal spots.

Abscisic acid and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid affect the expression of anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway genes in ‘Kyoho’ grape berries

SummaryThe effects of abscisic acid (ABA) and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) on the expression of seven anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway genes in ‘Kyoho’ grape berries were investigated. In untreated berries, the expression of the UDP-glucose-flavonoid: 3-O-glucosyltransferase (UFGT) gene was detected only at 42 d after full bloom (DAB), whereas the phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), chalcone synthase (CHS), chalcone isomerase (CHI), flavanone-3-hydroxylase (F3H), dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR) and leucoanthocyanidin dioxygenase (LDOX) genes were expressed throughout the growing period. ABA increased anthocyanin content in the skin and the expression of PAL, CHS, CHI, DFR and UFGT genes at 7 d after treatment. In contrast, 2,4-D inhibited the accumulation of anthocyanin and the expression of all the genes examined. The results clearly show that the anthocyanin levels resulting from the application of ABA and 2,4-D were correlated with the expression of anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway genes.

Molecular characterization and in silico expression analysis of a chalcone synthase gene family in Sorghum bicolor

Recent use of Sorghum bicolor as a target for grass genomics has presented new resources for gene discovery in novel metabolic pathways in Poaceae. Sorghum synthesizes a unique class of flavonoid phytoalexins, the 3-deoxyanthocyanidins, in response to fungal infection. The biosynthetic pathways for 3-deoxyflavonoids are largely uncharacterized but are known to involve transcriptional activation of chalcone synthase (CHS). CHS, or naringenin CHS, catalyses the formation of naringenin, the precursor for different flavonoids. We have isolated seven sorghum CHS genes, CHS1–7, from a genomic library on high-density filters. CHS1–7 are highly conserved and closely related to the maize C2 and Whp genes. Several of them are also linked in the genome. These findings suggest that they are the result of recent gene duplication events. Expression of the individual CHS genes was studied in silico by examination of expressed sequence tag (EST) data available in the public domain. Our analyses suggested that CHS1–7 were not differentially expressed in the various growth and developmental conditions represented by the cDNA libraries used to generate the EST data. However, we identified a CHS-like gene, CHS8, with significantly higher EST abundance in the pathogen-induced library. CHS8 shows only 81–82% identity to CHS1–7 and forms a distinct subgroup in our phylogenetic analysis. In addition, the active site region contains substitutions that distinguish CHS8 from naringenin CHS. We propose that CHS8 has evolved new enzymatic functions that are involved in the synthesis of defence-related flavonoids, such as the 3-deoxyanthocyanidins, during fungal infection.

An Arabidopsis Mutant Tolerant to Lethal Ultraviolet-B Levels Shows Constitutively Elevated Accumulation of Flavonoids and Other Phenolics

The isolation and characterization of mutants hypersensitive to ultraviolet (UV) radiation has been a powerful tool to learn about the mechanisms that protect plants against UV-induced damage. To increase our understanding of the various mechanisms of defense against UVB radiation, we searched for mutations that would increase the level of tolerance of Arabidopsis plants to UV radiation. We describe a single gene dominant mutation (uvt1) that leads to a remarkable tolerance to UVB radiation conditions that would kill wild-type plants. Pigment analyses show a constitutive increase in accumulation of UV-absorbing compounds in uvt1 that increases the capacity of the leaves to block UVB radiation and therefore is likely to be responsible for the elevated resistance of this mutant to UVB radiation. These increases in absorption in the UV region are due, at least in part, to increases in flavonoid and sinapate accumulation. Expression of chalcone synthase (CHS) mRNA was shown to be constitutively elevated in uvt1 plants, suggesting that the increases in absorption may be a consequence of changes in gene expression. Expression of CHS in uvt1 was shown to be still inducible by UV, indicating that the uvt1 lesion may not affect the UV-mediated regulation of CHS gene expression. Our data support an important role for UV screens in the overall protection of plants to UVB radiation. The uvt1 mutant could prove to be an important tool to elucidate further the exact role of UV-absorbing pigments in UV protection as well as the relative contribution of other mechanisms to the overall tolerance of plants to UV radiation.

Mechanisms of primordium formation during adventitious root development from walnut cotyledon explants.

In walnut (Juglans regia L.), an otherwise difficult-to-root species, explants of cotyledons have been shown to generate complete roots in the absence of exogenous growth regulators. In the present study, this process of root formation was shown to follow a pattern of adventitious, rather than primary or lateral, ontogeny: (i) the arrangement of vascular bundles in the region of root formation was of the petiole type; (ii) a typical root primordium was formed at the side of the procambium within a meristematic ring of actively dividing cells located around each vascular bundle; (iii) the developing root apical meristem was connected in a lateral way with the vascular bundle of the petiole. This adventitious root formation occurred in three main stages of cell division, primordium formation and organization of apical meristem. These stages were characterized by expression of LATERAL ROOT PRIMORDIUM-1 and CHALCONE SYNTHASE genes, which were found to be sequentially expressed during the formation of the primordium. Activation of genes related to root cell differentiation started at the early stage of primordium formation prior to organization of the root apical meristem. The systematic development of adventitious root primordia at a precise site gave indications on the positional and biochemical cues that are necessary for adventitious root formation.