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Characterization of triterpenoid profiles and triterpene synthase expression in the leaves of eight Vitis vinifera cultivars grown in the Upper Rhine Valley

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Abstract

Plant triterpenoids are a diverse group of secondary metabolites with wide distribution, high chemical diversity and interesting pharmacological and antimicrobial properties. The first step in the biosynthesis of all triterpenoids is the cyclization of the 2,3-oxidosqualene precursor, catalyzed by oxidosqualene cyclases (OSCs), which have characteristic product specificities. Biosynthesis and functions of pentacyclic triterpenes have been poorly studied in grapevine. In this study, we first investigated the profile of triterpenoids present in leaf cuticular waxes from eight Vitis vinifera cultivars cultivated in the Upper Rhine Valley. Further quantification of triterpenoids showed that these cultivars can be divided into two groups, characterized by high levels of lupeol (e.g., Pinot noir) or taraxerol (e.g., Gewurztraminer) respectively. We further analyzed the OSC family involved in the synthesis of pentacyclic triterpenes (called VvTTPSs) in the sequenced V. vinifera 40024 genome and found nine genes with similarity to previously characterized triterpene synthases. Phylogenetic analysis further showed that VvTTPS1–VvTTPS3 and VvTTPS5–VvTTPS9 belong to the β-amyrin synthase and multifunctional triterpene synthase clade, whereas VvTTPS10 belongs to the lupeol synthase clade. We studied the expression of several members of the VvTTPS family following biotic and abiotic stresses in V. vinifera 40024 as well as in the eight healthy cultivars. This study further revealed that one candidate gene, VvTTPS5, which does not belong to the lupeol synthase clade, is highly expressed in lupeol-rich cultivars. VvTTPS3, VvTTPS5, VvTTPS6, VvTTPS7 and VvTTPS10 were highly upregulated by UV stress, but only VvTTPS3, VvTTPS5, VvTTPS6 and VvTTPS10 were upregulated following downy mildew and gray mold infections respectively. These results suggest differential roles of VvTTPS against environmental stresses in grape leaves.

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Abbreviations

GC–MS/FID:

Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry/flame ionization detector

OSC:

Oxidosqualene cyclase

TLC:

Thin-layer chromatography

TTPS:

Triterpene synthase

t R :

Retention time

UV:

Ultra-violet

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Acknowledgments

We thank Jean-Marc Bertsch and Hubert Straub for their kind permission for leaves collection in their vineyards. We are grateful to the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA) Colmar for giving us the V. vinifera 40024 line and especially to Sabine Wiedemann for the P. viticola SC strain. This work was funded by the Université de Haute Alsace, the Conseil Interprofessionnel des Vins d’Alsace and by the European COST action COST-FA1303. F. Pensec was financed by a PhD fellowship from the Région Alsace.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire Vigne Biotechnologies et Environnement EA 3391, Université de Haute Alsace, 33 rue de Herrlisheim, 68000, Colmar, France

    Flora Pensec, Christophe Bertsch & Julie Chong

  2. Department of Plant Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, ul. Miecznikowa 1, 02-096, Warsaw, Poland

    Anna Szakiel, Cezary Pączkowski, Agnieszka Woźniak & Marta Grabarczyk

  3. Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Unité Mixte de Recherche 1131 Santé de la Vigne et Qualité du Vin, Université de Strasbourg, 28 rue de Herrlisheim, 68000, Colmar, France

    Marc J. C. Fischer

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  1. Flora Pensec
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  2. Anna Szakiel
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  3. Cezary Pączkowski
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  4. Agnieszka Woźniak
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Correspondence to Julie Chong.

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Pensec, F., Szakiel, A., Pączkowski, C. et al. Characterization of triterpenoid profiles and triterpene synthase expression in the leaves of eight Vitis vinifera cultivars grown in the Upper Rhine Valley. J Plant Res 129, 499–512 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10265-016-0797-0

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