Journal Article

Molecular Cloning and Characterization of Three Genes Encoding Dihydroflavonol-4-Reductase from Ginkgo biloba in Anthocyanin Biosynthetic Pathway

Honghui, Yuan, Shuiyuan, Cheng, Feng, Xu, Linling, Li, Fuliang, Cao, Hua, Cheng, Conghua, Wu

2013

Overview

Dihydroflavonol-4-reductase (DFR, EC1.1.1.219) catalyzes a key step late in the biosynthesis of anthocyanins, condensed tannins (proanthocyanidins), and other flavonoids important to plant survival and human nutrition. Three DFR cDNA clones (designated GbDFRs) were isolated from the gymnosperm Ginkgo biloba. The deduced GbDFR proteins showed high identities to other plant DFRs, which form three distinct DFR families. Southern blot analysis showed that the three GbDFRs each belong to a different DFR family. Phylogenetic tree analysis revealed that the GbDFRs share the same ancestor as other DFRs. The expression of the three recombinant GbDFRs in Escherichia coli showed that their actual protein sizes were in agreement with predictions from the cDNA sequences. The recombinant proteins were purified and their activity was analyzed; both GbDFR1 and GbDFR3 could catalyze dihydroquercetin conversion to leucocyanidin, while GbDFR2 catalyzed dihydrokaempferol conversion to leucopelargonidin. qRT-PCR showed that the GbDFRs were expressed in a tissue-specific manner, and transcript accumulation for the three genes was highest in young leaves and stamens. These transcription patterns were in good agreement with the pattern of anthocyanin accumulation in G.biloba. The expression profiles suggested that GbDFR1 and GbDFR2 are mainly involved in responses to plant hormones, environmental stress and damage. During the annual growth cycle, the GbDFRs were significantly correlated with anthocyanin accumulation in leaves. A fitted linear curve showed the best model for relating GbDFR2 and GbDFR3 with anthocyanin accumulation in leaves. GbDFR1 appears to be involved in environmental stress response, while GbDFR3 likely has primary functions in the synthesis of anthocyanins. These data revealed unexpected properties and differences in three DFR proteins from a single species.

• Publisher: Public Library of Science,Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subject: Accumulation / Agriculture / Alcohol Oxidoreductases - classification / Alcohol Oxidoreductases - genetics / Alcohol Oxidoreductases - metabolism / Amino Acid Sequence / Anthocyanins / Anthocyanins - biosynthesis / Base Sequence / Biocatalysis / Biology / Biosynthesis / Biosynthetic Pathways - genetics / Blotting, Western / Cloning / Cloning, Molecular / Conversion / Deoxyribonucleic acid / DNA / E coli / Environmental stress / Enzymes / Flavonoids / Flavonoids - metabolism / Forestry / Gene expression / Gene Expression Profiling / Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental - drug effects / Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental - radiation effects / Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic - drug effects / Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic - radiation effects / Gene Expression Regulation, Plant - drug effects / Gene Expression Regulation, Plant - radiation effects / Genes / Germplasm / Ginkgo / Ginkgo biloba / Ginkgo biloba - enzymology / Ginkgo biloba - genetics / Ginkgo biloba - growth & development / Herbal medicine / Hormones / Human nutrition / Isoenzymes - classification / Isoenzymes - genetics / Isoenzymes - metabolism / Laboratories / Leaves / Life sciences / Molecular Sequence Data / Multigene Family / Nutrition / Phylogeny / Plant growth / Plant Growth Regulators - pharmacology / Plant hormones / Plant Proteins - genetics / Plant Proteins - metabolism / Proanthocyanidins / Proteins / Quercetin - analogs & derivatives / Quercetin - metabolism / Recombinant / Reductase / Reductases / Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Sequence Homology, Amino Acid / Stamens / Tannic acid / Tannins / Transcription / Ultraviolet Rays