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Genome-wide characterization and analysis of the anthocyanin biosynthetic genes in Brassica oleracea

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Abstract

Main conclusion

From Brassica oleracea genome, 88 anthocyanin biosynthetic genes were identified. They expanded via whole-genome or tandem duplication and showed significant expression differentiation. Functional characterization revealed BoMYB113.1 as positive and BoMYBL2.1 as negative regulators responsible for anthocyanin accumulation.

Abstract

Brassica oleracea produces various health-promoting phytochemicals, including glucosinolates, carotenoids, and vitamins. Despite the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathways in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana being well characterized, little is known about the genetic basis of anthocyanin biosynthesis in B. oleracea. In this study, we identified 88 B. oleracea anthocyanin biosynthetic genes (BoABGs) representing homologs of 46 Arabidopsis anthocyanin biosynthetic genes (AtABGs). Most anthocyanin biosynthetic genes, having expanded via whole-genome duplication and tandem duplication, retained more than one copy in B. oleracea. Expression analysis revealed diverse expression patterns of BoABGs in different tissues, and BoABG duplications showed significant expression differentiation. Additional expression analysis and functional characterization revealed that the positive regulator BoMYB113.1 and negative regulator BoMYBL2.1 may be key genes responsible for anthocyanin accumulation in red cabbage and ornamental kale by upregulating the expression of structural genes. This study paves the way for a better understanding of anthocyanin biosynthetic genes in B. oleracea and should promote breeding for anthocyanin content.

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Data availability

The data generated or used in this study are included in this article and its supplementary materials. RNA-Seq data were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database with the accession number GSE42891. BoABGs sequences were retrieved from Bolbase (http://www.ocri-genomics.org/bolbase/index.html). Arabidopsis ABGs sequences were retrieved from Col-0 Arabidopsis reference genome in TAIR (http://www.arabidopsis.org/).

Abbreviations

ABGs:

Anthocyanin biosynthetic genes

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

PAL:

Phenylalanine ammonia lyase

C4H:

Cinnamate 4-hydroxylase

4CL:

4-Coumarate: CoA ligase

CHS:

Chalcone synthase

F3H:

Flavanone 3-hydroxylase

F3′H:

Flavonoid 3′-hydroxylase

FLS:

Flavonols by flavonol synthase

DFR:

Dihydroflavonol 4-reductase

ANS:

Anthocyanidin synthase

GEO:

Gene expression omnibus

WGT:

Whole-genome triplication

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by grants from the State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Germplasm Innovation (201902), the Major State Research Development Program (2016YFD0101702), the National Science Foundation of China (31572141), the Science and Technology Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS-ASTIP-IVFCAAS), and the earmarked fund for the Modern Agro-Industry Technology Research System, China (nycytx-35-gw01). The work reported herein was performed in the Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing 100081, China. These funding bodies had no role in the design of the study; collection, analysis, or interpretation of the data; or writing of the manuscript.

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Author notes

  1. Fengqing Han and Xiaoli Zhang contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, #12 Zhong Guan Cun Nandajie Street, Beijing, 100081, China

    Fengqing Han, Limei Yang, Mu Zhuang, Yangyong Zhang, Yumei Liu, Zhansheng Li, Yong Wang, Zhiyuan Fang, Jialei Ji & Honghao Lv

  2. Tianjin Kernel Vegetable Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Germplasm Innovation, Jinjing Road, Xiqing District, Tianjin, 300384, China

    Xiaoli Zhang

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  1. Fengqing Han
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Supplementary Information

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425_2021_3746_MOESM1_ESM.xlsx

Supplementary Table S1: The A. thaliana anthocyanin pathway genes their B. oleracea orthologs and detailed information of BoABGs. (XLSX 69 KB)

Supplementary Table S2: Expression data used in this study. (XLS 63 KB)

Supplementary Table S3: Primers used in this study for RT-PCR. (DOCX 18 KB)

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Han, F., Zhang, X., Yang, L. et al. Genome-wide characterization and analysis of the anthocyanin biosynthetic genes in Brassica oleracea. Planta 254, 92 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-021-03746-6

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