Duplication and functional divergence in the chalcone synthase gene family of Asteraceae: evolution with substrate change and catalytic simplification

Polyketide reductases in defense-related parasorboside biosynthesis in Gerbera hybrida share processing strategies with microbial polyketide synthase systems

Plant polyketides are well-known for their crucial functions in plants and their importance in the context of human health. They are synthesized by type III polyketide synthases (PKSs) and their final functional diversity is determined by post-PKS tailoring enzymes. Gerbera hybrida is rich in two defense-related polyketides: gerberin and parasorboside. Their synthesis is known to be initiated by GERBERA 2-PYRONE SYNTHASE 1 (G2PS1), but the polyketide reductases (PKRs) that determine their final structure have not yet been identified. We identified two PKR candidates in the pathway, GERBERA REDUCTASE 1 (GRED1) and GRED2. Gene expression and metabolite analysis of different gerbera tissues, cultivars, and transgenic gerbera plants, and in vitro enzyme assays, were performed for functional characterization of the enzymes. GRED1 and GRED2 catalyze the second reduction step in parasorboside biosynthesis. They reduce the proximal keto domain of the linear CoA bound intermediate before lactonization. We identified a crucial tailoring step in an important gerbera PKS pathway and show that plant polyketide biosynthesis shares processing strategies with fungi and bacteria. The two tailoring enzymes are recruited from the ancient sporopollenin biosynthetic pathway to a defense-related PKS pathway in gerbera. Our data provide an example of how plants recruit conserved genes to new functions in secondary metabolism that are important for environmental adaptation.

Polyketide Derivatives in the Resistance of Gerbera hybrida to Powdery Mildew

Powdery mildew is a common disease affecting the commercial production of gerbera flowers (Gerbera hybrida, Asteraceae). Some varieties show a certain degree of resistance to it. Our objective was to identify biomarkers of resistance to powdery mildew using an ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and chemometrics approach in a complex, fully factorial experiment to suggest a target for selection and breeding. Resistant varieties were found to differ from those that were susceptible in the metabolites of the polyketide pathway, such as gerberin, parasorboside, and gerberinside. A new compound probably involved in resistance, 5-hydroxyhexanoic acid 3-O-β-D-glucoside, was described for the first time. A decision tree model was built to distinguish resistant varieties, with an accuracy of 57.7%, sensitivity of 72%, and specificity of 44.44% in an independent test. Our results suggest the mechanism of resistance to powdery mildew in gerbera and provide a potential tool for resistance screening in breeding programs.

Chalcone synthases (CHSs): the symbolic type III polyketide synthases

Present review provides a thorough insight on some significant aspects of CHSs over a period of about past three decades with a better outlook for future studies toward comprehending the structural and mechanistic intricacy of this symbolic enzyme. Polyketide synthases (PKSs) form a large family of iteratively acting multifunctional proteins that are involved in the biosynthesis of spectrum of natural products. They exhibit remarkable versatility in the structural configuration and functional organization with an incredible ability to generate different classes of compounds other than the characteristic secondary metabolite constituents. Architecturally, chalcone synthase (CHS) is considered to be the simplest representative of Type III PKSs. The enzyme is pivotal for phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and is also well known for catalyzing the initial step of the flavonoid/isoflavonoid pathway. Being the first Type III enzyme to be discovered, CHS has been subjected to ample investigations which, to a greater extent, have tried to understand its structural complexity and promiscuous functional behavior. In this context, we vehemently tried to collect the fragmented information entirely focussed on this symbolic enzyme from about past three-four decades. The aim of this review is to selectively summarize data on some of the fundamental aspects of CHSs viz, its history and distribution, localization, structure and analogs in non-plant hosts, promoter analyses, and role in defense, with an emphasis on mechanistic studies in different species and vis-à-vis mutation-led changes, and evolutionary significance which has been discussed in detail. The present review gives an insight with a better perspective for the scientific community for future studies devoted towards delimiting the mechanistic and structural basis of polyketide biosynthetic machinery vis-à-vis CHS.

Assessing Anthocyanin Biosynthesis in Solanaceae as a Model Pathway for Secondary Metabolism

Solanaceae have played an important role in elucidating how flower color is specified by the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway (FBP), which produces anthocyanins and other secondary metabolites. With well-established reverse genetics tools and rich genomic resources, Solanaceae provide a robust framework to examine the diversification of this well-studied pathway over short evolutionary timescales and to evaluate the predictability of genetic perturbation on pathway flux. Genomes of eight Solanaceae species, nine related asterids, and four rosids were mined to evaluate variation in copy number of the suite of FBP enzymes involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis. Comparison of annotation sources indicated that the NCBI annotation pipeline generated more and longer FBP annotations on average than genome-specific annotation pipelines. The pattern of diversification of each enzyme among asterids was assessed by phylogenetic analysis, showing that the CHS superfamily encompasses a large paralogous family of ancient and recent duplicates, whereas other FBP enzymes have diversified via recent duplications in particular lineages. Heterologous expression of a pansy F3′5′H gene in tobacco changed flower color from pink to dark purple, demonstrating that anthocyanin production can be predictably modified using reverse genetics. These results suggest that the Solanaceae FBP could be an ideal system to model genotype-to-phenotype interactions for secondary metabolism.

5-Deoxynevadensin, a Novel Flavone in Sunflower and Aspects of Biosynthesis during Trichome Development

Fluorescent microscopy of sunflower glandular trichomes from anther appendages showed a strong autofluorescence, caused by flavonoids. Chemical analysis with NMR and HRMS lead to the identification of 7-hydroxy-6,8,4′-trimethoxyflavone, a novel 5-deoxyflavone, exclusively found in capitate glandular trichomes. 5-Deoxy flavones are rarely found in Asteraceae and this is the first report for the genus Helianthus. Semiquantitative RT-PCR showed the presence of transcripts for phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) and chalcone synthase (CHS) in all biosynthetically active trichome stages. PAL and CHS are key steps in flavonoid biosynthesis indicating that flavonoid production occurs directly within the trichomes. This offers the possibility for examination of 5-deoxyflavone biosynthesis within Asteraceae.

Segmental and tandem chromosome duplications led to divergent evolution of the chalcone synthase gene family in Phalaenopsis orchids

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Orchidaceae is a large plant family, and its extraordinary adaptations may have guaranteed its evolutionary success. Flavonoids are a group of secondary metabolites that mediate plant acclimation to challenge environments. Chalcone synthase (CHS) catalyses the initial step in the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway. This is the first chromosome-level investigation of the CHS gene family in Phalaenopsis aphrodite and was conducted to elucidate if divergence of this gene family is associated with chromosome evolution.

METHODS

Complete CHS genes were identified from our whole-genome sequencing data sets and their gene expression profiles were obtained from our transcriptomic data sets. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was conducted to position five CHS genes to high-resolution pachytene chromosomes.

KEY RESULTS

The five Phalaenopsis CHS genes can be classified into three groups, PaCHS1, PaCHS2 and the tandemly arrayed three-gene cluster, which diverged earlier than those of the orchid genera and species. Additionally, pachytene chromosome-based FISH mapping showed that the three groups of CHS genes are localized on three distinct chromosomes. Moreover, an expression analysis of RNA sequencing revealed that the five CHS genes had highly differentiated expression patterns and its expression pattern-based clustering showed high correlations between sequence divergences and chromosomal localizations of the CHS gene family in P. aphrodite.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on their phylogenetic relationships, expression clustering analysis and chromosomal distributions of the five paralogous PaCHS genes, we proposed that expansion of this gene family in P. aphrodite occurred through segmental duplications, followed by tandem duplications. These findings provide information for further studies of CHS functions and regulations, and shed light on the divergence of an important gene family in orchids.

Differential expression of anthocyanin structural genes and transcription factors determines coloration patterns in gerbera flowers

We investigated the expression of anthocyanin structural genes and transcription factors (TFs) associated with varying anthocyanin content during different developmental stages (S1-S4) of the gerbera cultivars 'Nathasha' and 'Rosalin'. Accumulation of anthocyanin started at S1 and reached a maximum at S3 in both cultivars. Enhancement of anthocyanin content in 'Nathasha' was associated with upregulation of ANS and MYB10, whereas in 'Rosalin', upregulation was associated with CHS1, MYB10, and MYC1. Low-temperature exposure (6 °C) enhanced anthocyanin content to a greater extent than that at 22 °C via stronger upregulation of CHS1 and MYB10 in 'Nathasha' and CHS1 in 'Rosalin', irrespective of flower developmental stage. However, differences in anthocyanin content between the two cultivars were found to be influenced by the expression levels of all structural genes and TFs, irrespective of flower developmental stage and temperature conditions. We suggest that differences in the regulation mechanisms of anthocyanin biosynthesis and coloration pattern between 'Nathasha' and 'Rosalin' are related to differences in the expression patterns of structural genes and TFs; however, further functional studies of the key genes in anthocyanin biosynthesis are needed.

Transcriptional control of anthocyanin biosynthesis genes and transcription factors associated with flower coloration patterns in Gerbera hybrida

We analyzed the expression of anthocyanin biosynthesis genes and transcription factors (TFs) in the Gerbera hybrida cultivars 'Bintang' and 'Alliance' that exhibit different coloration patterns. Differential expression of biosynthesis genes and TFs was associated with variable anthocyanin content at different flower developmental stages (S1-S3) in both cultivars; higher anthocyanin content was correlated with higher levels of gene expression. Exposure to different temperatures (6 and 22 °C) also resulted in different anthocyanin content levels: the lower temperature (6 °C) enhanced anthocyanin content compared to the higher temperature (22 °C). However, the increased anthocyanin content of 'Bintang' compared to 'Alliance' was the result of higher levels of expression of all detected genes, regardless of flower stage and temperature conditions. Therefore, we conclude that transcriptional control of the detected genes is associated with the mechanisms of anthocyanin biosynthesis and coloration patterns in gerberas; however, further studies of the key genes are needed.

Identification and analysis of CYP450 genes from transcriptome of Lonicera japonica and expression analysis of chlorogenic acid biosynthesis related CYP450s

Background

Lonicera japonica is an important medicinal plant that has been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. The pharmacological activities of L. japonica are mainly due to its rich natural active ingredients, most of which are secondary metabolites. CYP450s are a large, complex, and widespread superfamily of proteins that participate in many endogenous and exogenous metabolic reactions, especially secondary metabolism. Here, we identified CYP450s in L. japonica transcriptome and analyzed CYP450s that may be involved in chlorogenic acid (CGA) biosynthesis.

Methods

The recent availability of L. japonica transcriptome provided opportunity to identify CYP450s in this herb. BLAST based method and HMM based method were used to identify CYP450s in L. japonica transcriptome. Then, phylogenetic analysis, conserved motifs analysis, GO annotation, and KEGG annotation analyses were conducted to characterize the identified CYP450s. qRT-PCR was used to explore expression patterns of five CGA biosynthesis related CYP450s.

Results

In this study, 151 putative CYP450s with complete cytochrome P450 domain, which belonged to 10 clans, 45 families and 76 subfamilies, were identified in L. japonica transcriptome. Phylogenetic analysis classified these CYP450s into two major branches, A-type (47%) and non-A type (53%). Both types of CYP450s had conserved motifs in L. japonica. The differences of typical motif sequences between A-type and non-A type CYP450s in L. japonica were similar with other plants. GO classification indicated that non-A type CYP450s participated in more molecular functions and biological processes than A-type. KEGG pathway annotation totally assigned 47 CYP450s to 25 KEGG pathways. From these data, we cloned two LjC3Hs (CYP98A subfamily) and three LjC4Hs (CYP73A subfamily) that may be involved in biosynthesis of CGA, the major ingredient for pharmacological activities of L. japonica. qRT-PCR results indicated that two LjC3Hs exhibited oppositing expression patterns during the flower development and LjC3H2 exhibited a similar expression pattern with CGA concentration measured by HPLC. The expression patterns of three LjC4Hs were quite different and the expression pattern of LjC4H3 was quite similar with that of LjC3H1.

Discussion

Our results provide a comprehensive identification and characterization of CYP450s in L. japonica. Five CGA biosynthesis related CYP450s were cloned and their expression patterns were explored. The different expression patterns of two LjC3Hs and three LjC4Hs may be due to functional divergence of both substrate and catalytic specificity during plant evolution. The co-expression pattern of LjC3H1 and LjC4H3 strongly suggested that they were under coordinated regulation by the same transcription factors due to same cis elements in their promoters. In conclusion, this study provides insight into CYP450s and will effectively facilitate the research of biosynthesis of CGA in L. japonica.

Molecular and functional characterization of two isoforms of chalcone synthase and their expression analysis in relation to flavonoid constituents in Grewia asiatica L

Chalcone synthase constitutes a functionally diverse gene family producing wide range of flavonoids by catalyzing the initial step of the phenylpropanoid pathway. There is a pivotal role of flavonoids in pollen function as they are imperative for pollen maturation and pollen tube growth during sexual reproduction in flowering plants. Here we focused on medicinally important fruit-bearing shrub Grewia asiatica. It is a rich repository of flavonoids. The fruits are highly acclaimed for various putative health benefits. Despite its importance, full commercial exploitation is hampered due to two drawbacks which include short shelf life of its fruits and larger seed volume. To circumvent these constraints, seed abortion is one of the viable options. Molecular interventions tested in a number of economic crops have been to impair male reproductive function by disrupting the chalcone synthase (CHS) gene activity. Against this backdrop the aim of the present study included cloning and characterization of two full-length cDNA clones of GaCHS isoforms from the CHS multigene family. These included GaCHS1 (NCBI acc. KX129910) and GaCHS2 (NCBI acc. KX129911) with an ORF of 1176 and 1170 bp, respectively. GaCHSs were heterologously expressed and purified in E. coli to validate their functionality. Functionality of CHS isoforms was also characterized via enzyme kinetic studies using five different substrates. We observed differential substrate specificities in terms of their Km and Vmax values. Accumulation of flavonoid constituents naringenin and quercetin were also quantified and their relative concentrations corroborated well with the expression levels of GaCHSs. Further, our results demonstrate that GaCHS isoforms show differential expression patterns at different reproductive phenological stages. Transcript levels of GaCHS2 were more than its isoform GaCHS1 at the anthesis stage of flower development pointing towards its probable role in male reproductive maturity.

Genome-wide identification and phylogenetic analysis of the chalcone synthase gene family in rice

The enzymes of the chalcone synthase family are also known as type III polyketide synthases (PKS), and produce a series of secondary metabolites in bacteria, fungi and plants. In a number of plants, genes encoding PKS comprise a large multigene family. Currently, detailed reports on rice (Oryza sativa) PKS (OsPKS) family genes and tissue expression profiling are limited. Here, 27 candidate OsPKS genes were identified in the rice genome,and 23 gene structures were confirmed by EST and cDNA sequencing; phylogenetic analysis has indicated that these 23 OsPKS members could be clustered into three groups (I-III). Comparative analysis has shown OsPKS08 and OsPKS26 could be classified with the CHS genes of other species. Two members OsPKS10 and OsPKS21 were grouped into anther specific chalcone synthase-like (ASCL) clade. Intron/exon structure analysis revealed that nearly all of the OsPKS members contained one phase-1 intron at a conserved Cys. Analysis of chromosomal localization and genome distribution showed that some of the members were distributed on a chromosome as a cluster. Expression data exhibited widespread distribution of the rice OsPKS gene family within plant tissues, suggesting functional diversification of the OsPKS genes. Our results will contribute to future study of the complexity of the OsPKS gene family in rice.

Isolation of CHS Gene from Brunfelsia acuminata Flowers and Its Regulation in Anthocyanin Biosysthesis

Chalcone synthase gene (BaCHS) from Brunfelsia acuminata flowers was isolated using RT-PCR and RACE. The coding region of the gene is 1425-bp with an open reading frame of 1170-bp, 73-bp 5'UTR, and 172-bp 3'UTR. Its deduced protein does not have a signal peptide but does contain a cond_enzyme superfamily domain, and consists of 389 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of 42,699 Da and a pI of 6.57. The deduced amino acid sequence of BaCHS shares 90%, 88%, 85%, 84% and 79% identity with CHS from Petunia hybrida, Nicotiana tabacum, Solanum lycopersicum, Capsicum annuum and Camellia sinensis, respectively. The striking color change from dark purple to light purple and ultimately lead to pure white resulted from a decline in anthocyanin content of the petals and was preceded by a decrease in the expression of BaCHS. Its gene expression was positively correlated with the contents of anthocyanin (p ≤ 0.01).

Two polyketide synthases are necessary for 4-hydroxy-5-methylcoumarin biosynthesis in Gerbera hybrida

Gerbera (Gerbera hybrida) is an economically important ornamental species and a model plant of the Asteraceae family for flower development and secondary metabolism. Gerberin and parasorboside, two bitter tasting glucosidic lactones, are produced in high amounts in nearly all gerbera tissues. Gerbera and its close relatives also produce a rare coumarin, 4-hydroxy-5-methylcoumarin (HMC). Unlike most coumarins, 5-methylcoumarins have been suggested to be derived through the acetate-malonate pathway. All of these polyketide-derived glucosylated molecules are considered to have a role in defense against herbivores and phytopathogens in gerbera. Gerbera expresses three genes encoding 2-pyrone synthases (G2PS1-3). The enzymes are chalcone synthase-like polyketide synthases with altered starter substrate specificity. We have shown previously that G2PS1 is responsible for the synthesis of 4-hydroxy-6-methyl-2-pyrone (triacetolactone), a putative precursor of gerberin and parasorboside. Here we show that polyketide synthases G2PS2 and G2PS3 are necessary for the biosynthesis of HMC in gerbera, and that a reductase enzyme is likely required to complete the pathway to HMC. G2PS2 is expressed in the leaf blade and inflorescences of gerbera, while G2PS3 is strictly root specific. Heterologous expression of G2PS2 or G2PS3 in tobacco leads to the formation of 4,7-dihydroxy-5-methylcoumarin, apparently an unreduced precursor of HMC, while ectopic expression in gerbera leads to HMC formation in tissues where nontransgenic tissue does not express the genes and does not accumulate the compound. Using protein modelling and site-directed mutagenesis we identified the residues I203 and T344 in G2PS2 and G2PS3 to be critical for pentaketide synthase activity.

Phylogeny and Expression Analyses Reveal Important Roles for Plant PKS III Family during the Conquest of Land by Plants and Angiosperm Diversification

Polyketide synthases (PKSs) utilize the products of primary metabolism to synthesize a wide array of secondary metabolites in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. PKSs can be grouped into three distinct classes, types I, II, and III, based on enzyme structure, substrate specificity, and catalytic mechanisms. The type III PKS enzymes function as homodimers, and are the only class of PKS that do not require acyl carrier protein. Plant type III PKS enzymes, also known as chalcone synthase (CHS)-like enzymes, are of particular interest due to their functional diversity. In this study, we mined type III PKS gene sequences from the genomes of six aquatic algae and 25 land plants (1 bryophyte, 1 lycophyte, 2 basal angiosperms, 16 core eudicots, and 5 monocots). PKS III sequences were found relatively conserved in all embryophytes, but not exist in algae. We also examined gene expression patterns by analyzing available transcriptome data, and identified potential cis-regulatory elements in upstream sequences. Phylogenetic trees of dicots angiosperms showed that plant type III PKS proteins fall into three clades. Clade A contains CHS/STS-type enzymes coding genes with diverse transcriptional expression patterns and enzymatic functions, while clade B is further divided into subclades b1 and b2, which consist of anther-specific CHS-like enzymes. Differentiation regions, such as amino acids 196-207 between clades A and B, and predicted positive selected sites within α-helixes in late appeared branches of clade A, account for the major diversification in substrate choice and catalytic reaction. The integrity and location of conserved cis-elements containing MYB and bHLH binding sites can affect transcription levels. Potential binding sites for transcription factors such as WRKY, SPL, or AP2/EREBP may contribute to tissue- or taxon-specific differences in gene expression. Our data shows that gene duplications and functional diversification of plant type III PKS enzymes played a critical role in the ancient conquest of the land by early plants and angiosperm diversification.

Type III polyketide synthase repertoire in Zingiberaceae: computational insights into the sequence, structure and evolution

Zingiberaceae or 'ginger family' is the largest family in the order 'Zingiberales' with more than 1300 species in 52 genera, which are mostly distributed throughout Asia, tropical Africa and the native regions of America with their maximum diversity in Southeast Asia. Many of the members are important spice, medicinal or ornamental plants including ginger, turmeric, cardamom and kaempferia. These plants are distinguished for the highly valuable metabolic products, which are synthesised through phenylpropanoid pathway, where type III polyketide synthase is the key enzyme. In our present study, we used sequence, structural and evolutionary approaches to scrutinise the type III polyketide synthase (PKS) repertoire encoded in the Zingiberaceae family. Highly conserved amino acid residues in the sequence alignment and phylogram suggested strong relationships between the type III PKS members of Zingiberaceae. Sequence and structural level investigation of type III PKSs showed a small number of variations in the substrate binding pocket, leading to functional divergence among these PKS members. Molecular evolutionary studies indicate that type III PKSs within Zingiberaceae evolved under strong purifying selection pressure, and positive selections were rarely detected in the family. Structural modelling and protein-small molecule interaction studies on Zingiber officinale PKS 'a representative from Zingiberaceae' suggested that the protein is comparatively stable without much disorder and exhibited wide substrate acceptance.

Acylphloroglucinol Biosynthesis in Strawberry Fruit

Phenolics have health-promoting properties and are a major group of metabolites in fruit crops. Through reverse genetic analysis of the functions of four ripening-related genes in the octoploid strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa), we discovered four acylphloroglucinol (APG)-glucosides as native Fragaria spp. fruit metabolites whose levels were differently regulated in the transgenic fruits. The biosynthesis of the APG aglycones was investigated by examination of the enzymatic properties of three recombinant Fragaria vesca chalcone synthase (FvCHS) proteins. CHS is involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis during ripening. The F. vesca enzymes readily catalyzed the condensation of two intermediates in branched-chain amino acid metabolism, isovaleryl-Coenzyme A (CoA) and isobutyryl-CoA, with three molecules of malonyl-CoA to form phlorisovalerophenone and phlorisobutyrophenone, respectively, and formed naringenin chalcone when 4-coumaroyl-CoA was used as starter molecule. Isovaleryl-CoA was the preferred starter substrate of FvCHS2-1. Suppression of CHS activity in both transient and stable CHS-silenced fruit resulted in a substantial decrease of APG glucosides and anthocyanins and enhanced levels of volatiles derived from branched-chain amino acids. The proposed APG pathway was confirmed by feeding isotopically labeled amino acids. Thus, Fragaria spp. plants have the capacity to synthesize pharmaceutically important APGs using dual functional CHS/(phloriso)valerophenone synthases that are expressed during fruit ripening. Duplication and adaptive evolution of CHS is the most probable scenario and might be generally applicable to other plants. The results highlight that important promiscuous gene function may be missed when annotation relies solely on in silico analysis.

Chalcone synthase EaCHS1 from Eupatorium adenophorum functions in salt stress tolerance in tobacco

KEY MESSAGE

EaCHS1 functions in the tolerance of plantlets to salinity stress by maintaining ROS homeostasis. Chalcone synthase (CHS) is an essential enzyme in the biosynthesis of flavonoids. Expression of CHS is governed by a wide range of environmental stimuli, including UV light, pathogen attack, and circadian clocks. However, little research exists on the relationship between CHS and salinity stress. In this work, we constructed separate overexpression and RNA interference vectors of EaCHS1, and transferred them into tobacco. Overexpression of EaCHS1 increased the production of downstream flavonoids and the expressions of related genes in the phenylpropanoid pathway. It also improved resistance to salinity stress during seed germination and root development. In contrast, heterologous silencing of endogenous CHS in tobacco by a conserved EaCHS1 fragment had opposite effect. Together, our results indicated that changing the expression level of EaCHS1 in plants alters the accumulation of flavonoids and regulates plantlet tolerance to salinity stress by maintaining ROS homeostasis.

Molecular and Biochemical Analysis of Chalcone Synthase from Freesia hybrid in flavonoid biosynthetic pathway

Chalcone synthase (CHS) catalyzes the first committed step in the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway. In this study, the cDNA (FhCHS1) encoding CHS from Freesia hybrida was successfully isolated and analyzed. Multiple sequence alignments showed that both the conserved CHS active site residues and CHS signature sequence were found in the deduced amino acid sequence of FhCHS1. Meanwhile, crystallographic analysis revealed that protein structure of FhCHS1 is highly similar to that of alfalfa CHS2, and the biochemical analysis results indicated that it has an enzymatic role in naringenin biosynthesis. Moreover, quantitative real-time PCR was performed to detect the transcript levels of FhCHS1 in flowers and different tissues, and patterns of FhCHS1 expression in flowers showed significant correlation to the accumulation patterns of anthocyanin during flower development. To further characterize the functionality of FhCHS1, its ectopic expression in Arabidopsis thaliana tt4 mutants and Petunia hybrida was performed. The results showed that overexpression of FhCHS1 in tt4 mutants fully restored the pigmentation phenotype of the seed coats, cotyledons and hypocotyls, while transgenic petunia expressing FhCHS1 showed flower color alteration from white to pink. In summary, these results suggest that FhCHS1 plays an essential role in the biosynthesis of flavonoid in Freesia hybrida and may be used to modify the components of flavonoids in other plants.

Functional diversification of duplicated chalcone synthase genes in anthocyanin biosynthesis of Gerbera hybrida

• Chalcone synthase (CHS) is the key enzyme in the first committed step of the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway and catalyzes the stepwise condensation of 4-coumaroyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA to naringenin chalcone. In plants, CHS is often encoded by a small family of genes that are temporally and spatially regulated. Our earlier studies have shown that GCHS4 is highly activated by ectopic expression of an MYB-type regulator GMYB10 in gerbera (Gerbera hybrida). • The tissue- and development-specific expression patterns of three gerbera CHS genes were examined. Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) was used to knock down GCHS1 and GCHS4 separately in gerbera inflorescences. • Our data show that GCHS4 is the only CHS encoding gene that is expressed in the cyanidin-pigmented vegetative tissues of gerbera cv Terraregina. GCHS3 expression is pronounced in the pappus bristles of the flowers. Expression of both GCHS1 and GCHS4 is high in the epidermal cells of gerbera petals, but only GCHS1 is contributing to flavonoid biosynthesis. • Gerbera contains a family of three CHS encoding genes showing different spatial and temporal regulation. GCHS4 expression in gerbera petals is regulated post-transcriptionally, at the level of either translation elongation or protein stability.

The phylogeny of the European high mountain genus Adenostyles (Asteraceae-Senecioneae) reveals that edaphic shifts coincide with dispersal events

PREMISE OF THE STUDY

Heterogeneity of edaphic conditions plays a large role in driving the diversification of many plant groups. In the Alps and other European high mountains, many closely related calcicole and calcifuge plant taxa exist. To better understand patterns and processes of edaphic differentiation, the phylogeny of the edaphically variable genus Adenostyles was studied. The genus contains three species, of which A. alpina has five subspecies. Each species and subspecies is largely confined to either calcareous or noncalcareous substrates. •

METHODS

We analyzed the phylogeny of Adenostyles using DNA sequences of nrITS, nrETS, nuclear chalcone synthase, and three plastid markers (rpl32-trnL, psbA-trnH, and ndhF-rpl32) from 45 in-group and five out-group samples. The phylogeny was used to reconstruct ancestral edaphic associations and distribution areas. •

KEY RESULTS

Within Adenostyles alpina, the shifts of edaphic association from calcicole to calcifuge in subsp. briquetii (Corsica) and in a clade of subsp. macrocephala (southernmost Italy) plus subsp. pyrenaica (Pyrenees) coincide with dispersal events. •

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that colonization of areas with novel edaphic conditions via dispersal can trigger shifts of edaphic association. Accordingly, edaphic niche shifts can result from chance events.

The evolution of phenylpropanoid metabolism in the green lineage

Phenolic secondary metabolites are only produced by plants wherein they play important roles in both biotic and abiotic defense in seed plants as well as being potentially important bioactive compounds with both nutritional and medicinal benefits reported for animals and humans as a consequence of their potent antioxidant activity. During the long evolutionary period in which plants have adapted to the environmental niches in which they exist (and especially during the evolution of land plants from their aquatic algal ancestors), several strategies such as gene duplication and convergent evolution have contributed to the evolution of this pathway. In this respect, diversity and redundancy of several key genes of phenolic secondary metabolism such as polyketide synthases, cytochrome P450s, Fe(2+)/2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases and UDP-glycosyltransferases have played an essential role. Recent technical developments allowing affordable whole genome sequencing as well as a better inventory of species-by-species chemical diversity have resulted in a dramatic increase in the number of tools we have to assess how these pathways evolved. In parallel, reverse genetics combined with detailed molecular phenotyping is allowing us to elucidate the functional importance of individual genes and metabolites and by this means to provide further mechanistic insight into their biological roles. In this review, phenolic metabolite-related gene sequences (for a total of 65 gene families including shikimate biosynthetic genes) are compared across 23 independent species, and the phenolic metabolic complement of various plant species are compared with one another, in attempt to better understand the evolution of diversity in this crucial pathway.

Possible ways of fagopyrin biosynthesis and production in buckwheat plants

The present work extends knowledge about possible biosynthesis of fagopyrin in buckwheat plants by providing possible candidate genes for its biosynthesis and the role of type III polyketide synthases (PKSs). Moreover, new information is presented about the possible connection between naphthodianthrones and phenolic biosynthesis. Possible regulation of fagopyrin biosynthesis and production under different growth conditions is also discussed.

Virus-induced gene silencing for Asteraceae--a reverse genetics approach for functional genomics in Gerbera hybrida

Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) is a natural defence mechanism in plants which leads to sequence-specific degradation of viral RNA. For identifying gene functions, Tobacco rattle virus (TRV)-based VIGS has been applied for silencing of endogenous genes in many plant species. Gerbera hybrida (Asteraceae) has emerged as a novel model for studies in flower development and secondary metabolism. For this highly heterozygous species, functional studies have been conducted through reverse genetic methods by producing stable transgenic lines, which, however, is labour-intensive and time-consuming. For the development of TRV-based VIGS system for gerbera, and for the first time for an Asteraceaeous species, we screened several gerbera cultivars and optimized the agroinfiltration methods for efficient silencing. Gene fragments for gerbera phytoene desaturase (GPDS) and Mg-chelatase subunits (GChl-H and GChl-I), expressed from a TRV vector, induced silencing phenotypes in leaves, scapes, and involucral bracts indicating their feasibility as markers for green tissues. In addition, robust silencing symptoms were achieved in gerbera floral tissues by silencing the anthocyanin pathway gene for chalcone synthase (GCHS1) and a gerbera B-type MADS-box gene globosa (GGLO1), confirming the phenotypes previously observed in stable transgenic lines. Unexpectedly, photobleaching induced by GPDS and GChl-H or GChl-I silencing, or by the herbicide norflurazon, resulted in silencing of the polyketide synthase gene G2PS1, which has no apparent connections to carotenoid or chlorophyll biosynthesis. We have shown feasibility of VIGS for functional studies in gerbera, but our results also show that selection of the marker gene for silencing must be critically evaluated.

Chalcone synthase and its functions in plant resistance

Chalcone synthase (CHS, EC 2.3.1.74) is a key enzyme of the flavonoid/isoflavonoid biosynthesis pathway. Besides being part of the plant developmental program the CHS gene expression is induced in plants under stress conditions such as UV light, bacterial or fungal infection. CHS expression causes accumulation of flavonoid and isoflavonoid phytoalexins and is involved in the salicylic acid defense pathway. This review will discuss CHS and its function in plant resistance.

Polyketide derivatives active against Botrytis cinerea in Gerbera hybrida

A previously isolated cDNA molecule from Gerbera hybrida (Asteraceae) codes for a new chalcone synthase-like polyketide synthase, 2-pyrone synthase (2PS). 2PS is able to synthesise 4-hydroxy-6-methyl-2-pyrone (triacetolactone), a putative precursor for gerberin and parasorboside, two abundant glucosides in gerbera. In this study, we show that gerbera plants transformed with the gene for 2PS in an antisense orientation and unable to synthesise gerberin and parasorboside are susceptible to Botrytis cinerea infection. In addition to the preformed glucosides, the transgenic plants also lack several compounds that are induced in control plants when infected with the mould. Some of these induced substances are effective in inhibiting fungal growth both in vitro and in vivo. Two of the phytoalexins were identified as the aglycones of gerberin and trans-parasorboside. The third phytoalexin is a rare coumarin, 4-hydroxy-5-methylcoumarin; however, it is typical of many plants of the sunflower family Asteraceae. The coumarin cannot be structurally derived from either gerberin or parasorboside, but may be derived from a related polyketide intermediate.

In silicio expression analysis of PKS genes isolated from Cannabis sativa L

Cannabinoids, flavonoids, and stilbenoids have been identified in the annual dioecious plant Cannabis sativa L. Of these, the cannabinoids are the best known group of this plant's natural products. Polyketide synthases (PKSs) are responsible for the biosynthesis of diverse secondary metabolites, including flavonoids and stilbenoids. Biosynthetically, the cannabinoids are polyketide substituted with terpenoid moiety. Using an RT-PCR homology search, PKS cDNAs were isolated from cannabis plants. The deduced amino acid sequences showed 51%-73% identity to other CHS/STS type sequences of the PKS family. Further, phylogenetic analysis revealed that these PKS cDNAs grouped with other non-chalcone-producing PKSs. Homology modeling analysis of these cannabis PKSs predicts a 3D overall fold, similar to alfalfa CHS2, with small steric differences on the residues that shape the active site of the cannabis PKSs.

A single amino acid substitution converts benzophenone synthase into phenylpyrone synthase

Benzophenone metabolism provides a number of plant natural products with fascinating chemical structures and intriguing pharmacological activities. Formation of the carbon skeleton of benzophenone derivatives from benzoyl-CoA and three molecules of malonyl-CoA is catalyzed by benzophenone synthase (BPS), a member of the superfamily of type III polyketide synthases. A point mutation in the active site cavity (T135L) transformed BPS into a functional phenylpyrone synthase (PPS). The dramatic change in both substrate and product specificities of BPS was rationalized by homology modeling. The mutation may open a new pocket that accommodates the phenyl moiety of the triketide intermediate but limits polyketide elongation to two reactions, resulting in phenylpyrone formation. 3-Hydroxybenzoyl-CoA is the second best starter molecule for BPS but a poor substrate for PPS. The aryl moiety of the triketide intermediate may be trapped in the new pocket by hydrogen bond formation with the backbone, thereby acting as an inhibitor. PPS is a promising biotechnological tool for manipulating benzoate-primed biosynthetic pathways to produce novel compounds.

Plant polyketide synthases: a fascinating group of enzymes

The polyketide synthases (PKSs) are condensing enzymes which form a myriad of polyketide compounds. Several PKSs have been identified and studied in plants. This mini-review summarizes what is known about plant PKSs and some of their aspects such as specificity, reaction mechanisms, structure, as well as their possible evolution are highlighted.

Chalcone synthase gene lineage diversification confirms allopolyploid evolutionary relationships of European rostrate violets

Phylogenetic relationships among and within the subsections of the genus Viola are still far from resolved. We present the first organismal phylogeny of predominantly western European species of subsection Rostratae based on the plastid trnS-trnG intron and intergenic spacer and the nuclear low-copy gene chalcone synthase (CHS) sequences. CHS is a key enzyme in the synthesis of flavonoids, which are important for flower pigmentation. Genes encoding for CHS are members of a multigene family. In Viola, 3 different CHS copies are present. CHS gene lineages obtained confirmed earlier hypotheses about reticulate relationships between species of Viola subsection Rostratae based on karyotype data. Comparison of the CHS gene lineage tree and the plastid species phylogeny of Viola reconstructed in this study indicates that the different CHS copies present in Viola are the products of both recent and more ancient duplications.

Evolutionary mechanisms underlying secondary metabolite diversity

The enormous chemical diversity and the broad range of biological activities of secondary metabolites raise many questions about their role in nature and the specific traits leading to their evolution. The answers to these questions will not only be of fundamental interest but may also provide lessons that could help to improve the screening protocols of pharmaceutical companies and strategies for rational secondary metabolite engineering. In this review, we try to dissect evolutionary principles leading to the emergence, distribution, diversification and selection of genes involved in secondary metabolite biosyntheses. We give an overview about recent insights into the evolution of the different types of polyketide synthases (PKS) in microorganisms and plants and highlight unique mechanisms underlying polyketide diversity. Although phylogenetic and experimental data have significantly increased our knowledge about the role and evolution of secondary metabolites in the last decades there is still much dissent about the impact of natural selection. In order to understand the evolution towards metabolic diversity we therefore need more thorough investigations of the ecological role of secondary metabolites in the future.

Evolution of flavone synthase I from parsley flavanone 3beta-hydroxylase by site-directed mutagenesis

Flavanone 3beta-hydroxylase (FHT) and flavone synthase I (FNS I) are 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases with 80% sequence identity, which catalyze distinct reactions in flavonoid biosynthesis. However, FNS I has been reported exclusively from a few Apiaceae species, whereas FHTs are more abundant. Domain-swapping experiments joining the N terminus of parsley (Petroselinum crispum) FHT with the C terminus of parsley FNS I and vice versa revealed that the C-terminal portion is not essential for FNS I activity. Sequence alignments identified 26 amino acid substitutions conserved in FHT versus FNS I genes. Homology modeling, based on the related anthocyanidin synthase structure, assigned seven of these amino acids (FHT/FNS I, M106T, I115T, V116I, I131F, D195E, V200I, L215V, and K216R) to the active site. Accordingly, FHT was modified by site-directed mutagenesis, creating mutants encoding from one to seven substitutions, which were expressed in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) for FNS I and FHT assays. The exchange I131F in combination with either M106T and D195E or L215V and K216R replacements was sufficient to confer some FNS I side activity. Introduction of all seven FNS I substitutions into the FHT sequence, however, caused a nearly complete change in enzyme activity from FHT to FNS I. Both FHT and FNS I were proposed to initially withdraw the beta-face-configured hydrogen from carbon-3 of the naringenin substrate. Our results suggest that the 7-fold substitution affects the orientation of the substrate in the active-site pocket such that this is followed by syn-elimination of hydrogen from carbon-2 (FNS I reaction) rather than the rebound hydroxylation of carbon-3 (FHT reaction).

Diverse selective modes among orthologs/paralogs of the chalcone synthase (Chs) gene family of Arabidopsis thaliana and its relative A. halleri ssp. gemmifera

As a model system, Arabidopsis thaliana and its wild relatives have played an important role in the study of genomics and evolution in plants. In this study, we examined the genetic diversity of the chalcone synthase (Chs) gene, which encodes a key enzyme of the flavonoid pathway and is located on chromosome five, as well as two Chs-like genes on the first and fourth chromosomes of Arabidopsis. The objectives of the study are to determine if natural selection operates differentially on the paralogs of the Chs gene family in A. thaliana and Arabidopsis halleri ssp. gemmifera. The mode of selection was inferred from Tajima's D values from noncoding and coding regions, as well as from the ratio of nonsynonymous to synonymous substitutions. Both McDonald-Kreitman and HKA tests revealed the effects of selection on the allelic distribution, except for the chromosome 1 paralog in ssp. gemmifera. The Chs gene on chromosome 5 was under purifying selection in both species. Significant, negative Tajima's D values at synonymous sites and positive Fay and Wu's H values within coding region, plus reduced genetic variability in introns, indicated effects of background selection in shaping the evolution of this gene region in A. thaliana. The Chs paralog on chromosome 1 was under positive selection in A. thaliana, while interspecific introgression and balancing selection determined the fates of the paralog and resulted in high heterogeneity in ssp. gemmifera. Local adaptation differentiated populations of Japan and China at the locus. In contrast, the other Chs-paralog of chromosome 4 was shaped by purifying selection in A. thaliana, while under positive selection in ssp. gemmifera, as indicated by dn/ds>1. Moreover, these contrasting patterns of selection have likely resulted in functional divergence in Arabidopsis, as indicated by radical amino acid substitutions at the chalcone synthase/stilbene synthase motif of the Chs genes. Unlike previous studies of the evolutionary history of A. thaliana, the high levels of genetic diversity in most gene regions of Chs paralogs and nonsignificant Tajima's D in the intron sequences of the Chs gene family in A. thaliana did not reflect the effects of a recent demographic expansion.

Molecular evolution and functional specialization of chalcone synthase superfamily from Phalaenopsis Orchid

Plant genomes appear to exploit the process of gene duplication as a primary means of acquiring biochemical and developmental flexibility. The best example is the gene encoding chalcone synthase (CHS, EC2.3.1.74), the first committed step in flavonoid biosynthesis. In this study, we examined the molecular evolution of three CHS family members of Phalaenopsis including a novel chs gene (phchs5), which is slowly evolved. The inferred phylogeny of the chs genes of Phalaenopsis with other two orchid plants, Bromoheadia finlaysoniana and Dendrobium hybrid, suggested that gene duplication and divergence have occurred before divergence of these three genera. Relatively quantitative RT-PCR analysis identified expression patterns of these three chs genes in different floral tissues at different developmental stages. Phchs5 was the most abundantly expressed chs gene in floral organs and it was specifically transcribed in petal and lip at the stages when anthocyanin accumulated (stage1-4). Phchs3 and phchs4 were expressed at much lower levels than phchs5. Phchs3 was expressed in pigmented tissue (including lip, petal and sepal) at middle stages (stages 2-4) and in colorless reproductive tissue at late stage (stage 5). Phchs4 was only expressed in petal at earlier stages (stage 1-3) and in lip at middle stage (stage 4). These results present new data on differentiation of gene expression among duplicate copies of chs genes in Phalaenopsis.

Mining plant diversity: Gerbera as a model system for plant developmental and biosynthetic research

Gerbera hybrida is a member of the large sunflower family (Asteraceae). Typical of Asteraceae, Gerbera bears different types of flowers in its inflorescence. The showy marginal flowers comprise elongate, ligulate corollas that are female, whereas the central and inconspicuous disc flowers are complete, with both male and female organs. As such, Gerbera offers great potential for comparative developmental research within a single genotype. Moreover, different Gerbera varieties show an impressive spectrum of color patterns, directly displaying responses to developmental cues at all important morphological levels (flower type, flower organ and within organs). Further, Gerbera harbors an arsenal of Asteraceae-type secondary metabolites, not present in other model plants. With powerful reverse genetics methods, a large collection of EST sequences and a new cDNA microarray, Gerbera has become a model plant of the sunflower family.

Genome-wide analysis of the structural genes regulating defense phenylpropanoid metabolism in Populus

Salicin-based phenolic glycosides, hydroxycinnamate derivatives and flavonoid-derived condensed tannins comprise up to one-third of Populus leaf dry mass. Genes regulating the abundance and chemical diversity of these substances have not been comprehensively analysed in tree species exhibiting this metabolically demanding level of phenolic metabolism. Here, shikimate-phenylpropanoid pathway genes thought to give rise to these phenolic products were annotated from the Populus genome, their expression assessed by semiquantitative or quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and metabolic evidence for function presented. Unlike Arabidopsis, Populus leaves accumulate an array of hydroxycinnamoyl-quinate esters, which is consistent with broadened function of the expanded hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA transferase gene family. Greater flavonoid pathway diversity is also represented, and flavonoid gene families are larger. Consistent with expanded pathway function, most of these genes were upregulated during wound-stimulated condensed tannin synthesis in leaves. The suite of Populus genes regulating phenylpropanoid product accumulation should have important application in managing phenolic carbon pools in relation to climate change and global carbon cycling.

Molecular evolution of flavonoid dioxygenases in the family Apiaceae

Plant species of the family Apiaceae are known to accumulate flavonoids mainly in the form of flavones and flavonols. Three 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases, flavone synthase or flavanone 3 beta-hydroxylase and flavonol synthase are involved in the biosynthesis of these secondary metabolites. The corresponding genes were cloned recently from parsley (Petroselinum crispum) leaves. Flavone synthase I appears to be confined to the Apiaceae, and the unique occurrence as well as its high sequence similarity to flavanone 3beta-hydroxylase laid the basis for evolutionary studies. In order to examine the relationship of these two enzymes throughout the Apiaceae, RT-PCR based cloning and functional identification of flavone synthases I or flavanone 3beta-hydroxylases were accomplished from Ammi majus, Anethum graveolens, Apium graveolens, Pimpinella anisum, Conium maculatum and Daucus carota, yielding three additional synthase and three additional hydroxylase cDNAs. Molecular and phylogenetic analyses of these sequences were compatible with the phylogeny based on morphological characteristics and suggested that flavone synthase I most likely resulted from gene duplication of flavanone 3beta-hydroxylase, and functional diversification at some point during the development of the apiaceae subfamilies. Furthermore, the genomic sequences from Petroselinum crispum and Daucus carota revealed two introns in each of the synthases and a lack of introns in the hydroxylases. These results might be explained by intron losses from the hydroxylases occurring at a later stage of evolution.

Analysis of the floral transcriptome uncovers new regulators of organ determination and gene families related to flower organ differentiation in Gerbera hybrida (Asteraceae)

Development of composite inflorescences in the plant family Asteraceae has features that cannot be studied in the traditional model plants for flower development. In Gerbera hybrida, inflorescences are composed of morphologically different types of flowers tightly packed into a flower head (capitulum). Individual floral organs such as pappus bristles (sepals) are developmentally specialized, stamens are aborted in marginal flowers, petals and anthers are fused structures, and ovaries are located inferior to other floral organs. These specific features have made gerbera a rewarding target of comparative studies. Here we report the analysis of a gerbera EST database containing 16,994 cDNA sequences. Comparison of the sequences with all plant peptide sequences revealed 1656 unique sequences for gerbera not identified elsewhere within the plant kingdom. Based on the EST database, we constructed a cDNA microarray containing 9000 probes and have utilized it in identification of flower-specific genes and abundantly expressed marker genes for flower scape, pappus, stamen, and petal development. Our analysis revealed several regulatory genes with putative functions in flower-organ development. We were also able to associate a number of abundantly and specifically expressed genes with flower-organ differentiation. Gerbera is an outcrossing species, for which genetic approaches to gene discovery are not readily amenable. However, reverse genetics with the help of gene transfer has been very informative. We demonstrate here the usability of the gerbera microarray as a reliable new tool for identifying novel genes related to specific biological questions and for large-scale gene expression analysis.

Likelihood analysis of the chalcone synthase genes suggests the role of positive selection in morning glories (Ipomoea)

Chalcone synthase (CHS) is a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of flavonoides, which are important for the pigmentation of flowers and act as attractants to pollinators. Genes encoding CHS constitute a multigene family in which the copy number varies among plant species and functional divergence appears to have occurred repeatedly. In morning glories (Ipomoea), five functional CHS genes (A-E) have been described. Phylogenetic analysis of the Ipomoea CHS gene family revealed that CHS A, B, and C experienced accelerated rates of amino acid substitution relative to CHS D and E. To examine whether the CHS genes of the morning glories underwent adaptive evolution, maximum-likelihood models of codon substitution were used to analyze the functional sequences in the Ipomoea CHS gene family. These models used the nonsynonymous/synonymous rate ratio (omega = d(N)/ d(S)) as an indicator of selective pressure and allowed the ratio to vary among lineages or sites. Likelihood ratio test suggested significant variation in selection pressure among amino acid sites, with a small proportion of them detected to be under positive selection along the branches ancestral to CHS A, B, and C. Positive Darwinian selection appears to have promoted the divergence of subfamily ABC and subfamily DE and is at least partially responsible for a rate increase following gene duplication.

Activation of anthocyanin biosynthesis in Gerbera hybrida (Asteraceae) suggests conserved protein-protein and protein-promoter interactions between the anciently diverged monocots and eudicots

We have identified an R2R3-type MYB factor, GMYB10, from Gerbera hybrida (Asteraceae) that shares high sequence homology to and is phylogenetically grouped together with the previously characterized regulators of anthocyanin pigmentation in petunia (Petunia hybrida) and Arabidopsis. GMYB10 is able to induce anthocyanin pigmentation in transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum), especially in vegetative parts and anthers. In G. hybrida, GMYB10 is involved in activation of anthocyanin biosynthesis in leaves, floral stems, and flowers. In flowers, its expression is restricted to petal epidermal cell layers in correlation with the anthocyanin accumulation pattern. We have shown, using yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) two-hybrid assay, that GMYB10 interacts with the previously isolated bHLH factor GMYC1. Particle bombardment analysis was used to show that GMYB10 is required for activation of a late anthocyanin biosynthetic gene promoter, PGDFR2. cis-Analysis of the target PGDFR2 revealed a sequence element with a key role in activation by GMYB10/GMYC1. This element shares high homology with the anthocyanin regulatory elements characterized in maize (Zea mays) anthocyanin promoters, suggesting that the regulatory mechanisms involved in activation of anthocyanin biosynthesis have been conserved for over 125 million years not only at the level of transcriptional regulators but also at the level of the biosynthetic gene promoters.

Duplication and adaptive evolution of the chalcone synthase genes of Dendranthema (Asteraceae)

Chalcone synthase (CHS) is a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of flavonoids, which are important for the pigmentation of flowers and act as attractants to the pollinators. Genes encoding CHS constitute a multigene family in which the copy number varies among plant species and functional divergence appears to have occurred repeatedly. Plants of the Dendranthema genus have white, yellow, and pink flowers, exhibiting considerable variation in flower color. In this article, 18 CHS genes from six Dendranthema species were sequenced. Two of them were found to be pseudogenes. The functional Dendranthema CHS genes formed three well-supported subfamilies: SF1, SF2, and SF3. The inferred phylogeny of the CHS genes of Dendranthema and Gerbera suggests that those genes originated as a result of duplications before divergence of these two genera, and the function of Dendranthema CHS genes have diverged in a similar fashion to the Gerbera CHS genes; i.e., the genes of SF1 and SF3 code for typical CHS enzymes expressed during different stages of development, whereas the genes of SF2 code for another enzyme that is different from CHS in substrate specificity and reaction. Relative rate tests revealed that the Dendranthema CHS genes significantly deviated from clocklike evolution at nonsynonymous sites. Maximum likelihood analysis showed that the nonsynonymous-synonymous (omega = d(N)/d(S)) rate ratio for the lineage ancestral to SF2 was much higher than for other lineages, with some sites having a ratio well above one. Positive selective pressure appears to have driven the divergence of SF2 from SF1 and SF3.

A family of polyketide synthase genes expressed in ripening Rubus fruits

Quality traits of raspberry fruits such as aroma and color derive in part from the polyketide derivatives, benzalacetone and dihydrochalcone, respectively. The formation of these metabolites during fruit ripening is the result of the activity of polyketide synthases (PKS), benzalcetone synthase and chalcone synthase (CHS), during fruit development. To gain an understanding of the regulation of these multiple PKSs during fruit ripening, we have characterized the repertoire of Rubus PKS genes and studied their expression patterns during fruit ripening. Using a PCR-based homology search, a family of ten PKS genes (Ripks1-10) sharing 82-98% nucleotide sequence identity was identified in the Rubus idaeus genome. Low stringency screening of a ripening fruit-specific cDNA library, identified three groups of PKS cDNAs. Group 1 and 2 cDNAs were also represented in the PCR amplified products, while group 3 represented a new class of Rubus PKS gene. The Rubus PKS gene-family thus consists of at least eleven members. The three cDNAs exhibit distinct tissue-specific and developmentally regulated patterns of expression. RiPKS5 has high constitutive levels of expression in all organs, including developing flowers and fruits, while RiPKS6 and RiPKS11 expression is consistent with developmental and tissue-specific regulation in various organs. The recombinant proteins encoded by the three RiPKS cDNAs showed a typical CHS-type PKS activity. While phylogenetic analysis placed the three Rubus PKSs in one cluster, suggesting a recent duplication event, their distinct expression patterns suggest that their regulation, and thus function(s), has evolved independently of the structural genes themselves.

Pleiotropy, redundancy and the evolution of flowers

Most angiosperm flowers are tightly integrated, functionally bisexual shoots that have carpels with enclosed ovules. Flowering plants evolved from within the gymnosperms, which lack this combination of innovations. Paradoxically, phylogenetic reconstructions suggest that the flowering plant lineage substantially pre-dates the evolution of flowers themselves. We provide a model based on known gene regulatory networks whereby positive selection on a single, partially redundant gene duplicate 'trapped' the ancestors of flower-bearing plants into the condensed, bisexual state approximately 130 million years ago. The LEAFY (LFY) gene of Arabidopsis encodes a master regulator that functions as the main conduit of environmental signals to the reproductive developmental program. We directly link the elimination of one LFY paralog, pleiotropically maintained in gymnosperms, to the sudden appearance of flowers in the fossil record.

A stilbene synthase from Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora): implications for phytoalexin accumulation and down-regulation of flavonoid biosynthesis

Stilbene synthase (STS) and chalcone synthase (CHS) are plant-specific polyketide synthases that play key roles in the stilbenoid and flavonoid biosyntheses, respectively. We have recently isolated from Pinus densiflora three STS cDNAs (PDSTS1, PDSTS2, and PDSTS3) and one CHS cDNA (PDCHSX). We then heterologously expressed these cDNAs in Escherichia coli and characterized their properties. An unusual STS isozyme, PDSTS3, lacks the common C-terminal extension of STS because of a frame-shift mutation and shows the highest pinosylvin-forming activity among the STSs tested. Pinosylvin was shown to be a potent inhibitor of PDCHSX (K(i) = 6 microM) as well as PDSTS2 (K(i) = 13 microM), which presumably maintains the balance between the stilbenoid and flavonoid biosyntheses. PDSTS3 was insensitive to product inhibition. We identified PDSTS3 in the pine seedlings as well as full-length STS. The data provide evidence that PDSTS3 is involved in the potential regulation of the stilbenoid and flavonoid biosynthetic pathways in pine trees.