Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Flower colour and cytochromes P450

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Phytochemistry Reviews Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Flavonoids are major constituents of flower colour. Plants accumulate specific flavonoids and thus every species often exhibits a limited flower colour range. Three cytochromes P450 play critical roles in the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway. Flavonoid 3′-hydroxylase (F3′H, CYP75B) and flavonoid 3′,5′-hydroxylase (F3′5′H, CYP75A) catalyze the hydroxylation of the B-ring of flavonoids and are necessary to biosynthesize cyanidin-(red to magenta) and delphinidin-(violet to blue) based anthocyanins, respectively. Pelargonidin-based anthocyanins (orange to red) are synthesized in their absence. Some species such as roses, carnations and chrysanthemums do not have violet/blue flower colour due to deficiency of F3′5′H. Successful expression of heterologous F3′5′H genes in roses and carnations results in delphinidin production, causing a novel blue/violet flower colour. Down-regulation of F3′H and F3′5′H genes has yielded orange petunia and pink torenia colour that accumulate pelargonidin-based anthocyanins. Flavone synthase II (CYP93B) catalyzes the synthesis of flavones that contribute to the bluing of flower colour, and modulation of FNSII gene expression in petunia and tobacco changes their flower colour. Extensive engineering of the anthocyanin pathway is therefore now possible, and can be expected to enhance the range of flower colours.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

DFR:

dihydroflavonol 4-reductase

DHK:

dihydrokaempferol

DHQ:

dihydroquercetin

DHM:

dihydromyricetin

F3H:

flavanone 3-hydroxylase

F3′H:

flavonoid 3′-hydroxylase

F3′5′H:

flavonoid 3′,5′-hydroxylase

FLS:

flavonol synthase

FNS:

flavone synthase

References

  • Akashi T, Fukuchi-Mizutani M, Aoki T, Ueyama Y, Yonekura-Sakakibara K, Tanaka Y, Kusumi T, Ayabe S (1999) Molecular cloning and biochemical characterization of a novel cytochrome P450, flavone synthase II, that catalyzes direct conversion of flavanones to flavones. Plant Cell Physiol 40:1182–1187

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ayabe S, Akashi T (2006) Cytochrome P450s in flavonoid metabolism. Phytochem Rev DOI 10.1007/s11101-006-9007-3 (this issue)

  • Brugliera F, Barri-rewell G, Holton TA, Mason GM (1999) Isolation and characterization of a flavonoid 3′-hydroxylase cDNA clone corresponding to the Ht1 locus of Petunia hybrida. Plant J 19:441–451

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brugliera F, Tanaka Y, Mason J (2004) Flavonoid 3′,5′-hydroxylase gene sequences and uses therefor. Patent publication number WO 2004/020637

  • de Vetten N, ter Horst J, van Schaik HP, de Boer A, Mol J, Koes R (1999) A cytochrome b5 is required for full activity of flavonoid 3′,5′-hydroxylase, a cytochrome P450 involved in the formation of blue flower colors. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 96:778–783

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Forkmann G, Heller W (1999) Biosynthesis of flavonoids. In: Sankawa U (ed) Polyketides and other secondary metabolites including fatty acid and their derivatives, vol 1. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 713–748

    Google Scholar 

  • Fukui Y, Tanaka Y, Kusumi T, Iwashita T, Nomoto K (2003) A rationale for the shift in colour towards blue in transgenic carnation flowers expressing the flavonoid 3′,5′-hydroxylase gene. Phytochem 63:15–23

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Halbwirth H, Forkmann G, Stich K (2004) The A-ring specific hydroxylation of flavonols in position 6 in Tagetes sp. is catalyzed by a cytochrome P450 dependent monooxygenase. Plant Sci 167:129–135

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Harborne JB, Williams CA (2000) Advances in flavonoid research since 1992. Phytochem 55:481–504

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Holton TA, Tanaka Y (1994) Blue roses – a pigment of our imagination? Trends Biotechnol 12:40–43

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holton TA (1996) Transgenic plants exhibiting altered flower color & methods for producing same. Patent publication number PCT/AU96/00296

  • Holton TA, Brugliera F, Lester DR, Tanaka Y, Hyland CD, Menting JGT, Lu C-Y, Farcy E, Stevenson TW, Cornish EC (1993) Cloning and expression of cytochrome P450 genes controlling flower colour. Nature 366:276–279

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Latunde-Dada AO, Cabbello-Hurtado F, Czittrich N, Didierjean L, Schopfer C, Hertkorn N, Werk-Reichhart D, Ebel J (2001) Flavonoid 6-hydroxylase from soybean (Glycine max L.), a novel plant P-450 monooxygenase. J Biol Chem 276:1688–1695

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Martens S, Forkmann G (1999) Cloning and expression of flavone synthase II from Gerbera hybrida. Plant J 20:611–618

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Martens S, Mithofer A (2005) Flavones and flavone synthases. Phytochem 66:2399–2407

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mori S, Kobayashi H, Hoshi Y, Kondo M, Nakano M (2004) Heterologous expression of the flavonoid 3′,5′-hydroxylase gene of Vinca major alters flower color in transgenic Petunia hybrida. Plant Cell Rep 22:415–421

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nakamura N, Fukuchi-Mizutani M, Suzuki K, Miyazaki K, Tanaka Y (2006) RNAi suppression of the anthocyanidin synthase gene in Torenia hybrida yields white flowers with higher frequency and better stability than antisense and sense suppression. Plant Biotechnol 23:13–18

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nakatsuka T, Nishihara M, Mishiba K, Yamamura S (2006) Heterologous expression of two gentian cytochrome P450 genes can modulate the intensity of flower pigmentation in transgenic tobacco plants. Mol Breeding 17:91–99

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Okinaka Y, Shimada Y, Nakano-Shimada R, Ohbayashi M, Kiyokawa S, Kikuchi Y (2003) Selective accumulation of delphinidin derivatives in tobacco using a putative flavonoid 3′,5′-hydroxylase cDNA from Campanula medium. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 67:161–165

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shimada Y, Nakano-Shimada R, Ohbayashi M, Okinaka Y, Kiyokawa S, Kikuchi Y (1999) Expression of chimeric P450 genes encoding flavonoid-3′,5′-hydroxylase in transgenic tobacco and petunia plants. FEBS Lett 461:241–245

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shimada Y, Ohbayashi M, Nakano-Shimada R, Okinaka Y, Kiyokawa S, Kikuchi Y (2001) Genetic engineering of the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway with flavonoid 3′,5′-hydroxylase: specific switching of the pathway in petunia. Plant Cell Rep 20:456–462

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Suzuki K, Zue H, Tanaka Y, Fukui Y, Fukuchi-Mizutani M, Murakami Y, Katsumoto Y, Tsuda S, Kusumi T (2000) Flower color modifications of Torenia hybrida by cosuppression of anthocyanin biosynthesis genes. Mol Breeding 6:239–246

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tanaka Y, Brugliera F (2006) Flower colour. In: Ainsworth C (ed) Flowering and its manipulation. Blackwell, London, pp 201–239

  • Tanaka Y, Katsumoto Y, Brugliera F, John M (2005a) Genetic engineering in floriculture. Plant Cell Tiss Org Cult 80:1–24

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tanaka Y, Fukui Y, Togami J, Mizutani M, Katsumoto Y (2005b) Process for producing rose with modified color, Patent publication number WO 2005/017147

  • Togami J, Tamura M, Ishiguro K, Hirose C, Okuhara H, Ueyama Y, Nakamura N, Yonekura-Sakakibara K, Fukuchi-Mizutani M, Suzuki K, Fukui Y, Kusumi T, Tanaka Y (2006) Molecular characterization of the flavonoid biosynthesis of Verbena hybrida and functional analysis of verbena and Clitoria ternatea F3′5′H genes in transgenic verbena. Plant Biotechnol 23:5–11

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tsuda S, Fukui Y, Nakamra N, Katsumoto Y, Yonekura-Sakakibara K, Fukuchi-Mizutani M, Ohira K, Ueyama Y, Ohkawa H, Holton TA, Kusumi T, Tanaka Y (2004) Flower color modification of Petunia hybrida commercial varieties by metabolic engineering. Plant Biotechnol 21:377–386

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ueyama Y, Katsumoto K, Fukui Y, Fukuchi-Mizutani M, Ohkawa H, Kusumi T, Iwashita T, Tanaka Y (2006) Molecular characterization of the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway and flower colour modification of Nierembergia sp. Plant Biotechnol 23:19–24

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ueyama Y, Suzuki K, Fukuchi-Mizutani M, Fukui Y, Miyazaki K, Ohkawara H, Kusumi T, Tanaka Y (2002) Molecular and biochemical characterization of torenia flavonoid 3′-hydroxylase and flavone synthase II and modification of flower color by modulating the expression of these genes. Plant Sci 163:253–263

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The author is grateful for the collaboration received from Suntory Ltd. (Japan) and Florigene Ltd. (Australia) and for research grants provided by Bio-oriented Technology Research Advancement Institute (Japan). Dr Chandler (Florigene Ltd.) and Dr Yamamura (Iwate Biotechnology Research Center) are acknowledged for improving the manuscript, especially the rose section, and providing a preprint, respectively. Due to space constraints, only a limited number of publications have been cited.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Advanced Core Technology, Suntory Ltd., 1-1-1, Wakayamadai, Shimamoto-cho, Mishima-gun, Osaka, 618-8503, Japan

    Yoshikazu Tanaka

Authors
  1. Yoshikazu Tanaka
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yoshikazu Tanaka.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Tanaka, Y. Flower colour and cytochromes P450. Phytochem Rev 5, 283–291 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11101-006-9003-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11101-006-9003-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation