Isolation and Characterization of Key Genes that Promote Flavonoid Accumulation in Purple-leaf Tea (Camellia sinensis L.)

Sci Rep. 2018 Jan 9;8(1):130. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-18133-z.

Abstract

There were several high concentrations of flavonoid components in tea leaves that present health benefits. A novel purple-leaf tea variety, 'Mooma1', was obtained from the natural hybrid population of Longjing 43 variety. The buds and young leaves of 'Mooma1' were displayed in bright red. HPLC and LC-MS analysis showed that anthocyanins and O-Glycosylated flavonols were remarkably accumulated in the leaves of 'Mooma1', while the total amount of catechins in purple-leaf leaves was slightly decreased compared with the control. A R2R3-MYB transcription factor (CsMYB6A) and a novel UGT gene (CsUGT72AM1), that were highly expressed in purple leaf were isolated and identified by transcriptome sequencing. The over-expression of transgenic tobacco confirmed that CsMYB6A can activate the expression of flavonoid-related structural genes, especially CHS and 3GT, controlling the accumulation of anthocyanins in the leaf of transgenic tobacco. Enzymatic assays in vitro confirmed that CsUGT72AM1 has catalytic activity as a flavonol 3-O-glucosyltransferase, and displayed broad substrate specificity. The results were useful for further elucidating the molecular mechanisms of the flavonoid metabolic fluxes in the tea plant.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Camellia sinensis / chemistry
  • Camellia sinensis / genetics*
  • Camellia sinensis / metabolism*
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Computational Biology / methods
  • Flavonoids / biosynthesis*
  • Flavonoids / chemistry
  • Gene Expression
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Genes, Plant*
  • Genetic Association Studies*
  • Phylogeny
  • Pigmentation
  • Plant Leaves / chemistry
  • Plant Leaves / genetics
  • Plant Leaves / metabolism
  • Quantitative Trait, Heritable*
  • Tea
  • Transcriptome

Substances

  • Flavonoids
  • Tea