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Isolation and characterization of a R2R3-MYB transcription factor gene related to anthocyanin biosynthesis in the spathes of Anthurium andraeanum (Hort.)

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A R2R3-MYB gene AaMYB2 was isolated from Anthurium andraeanum (Hort.) and was functionally characterized to be a positive transcriptional regulator for anthocyanin biosynthesis in the spathes and leaves.

Abstract

Spathe coloration is an important Anthurium andraeanum (Hort.) characteristic, which is mainly contributed by anthocyanins. R2R3-MYB transcription factors (TFs) are important regulators of anthocyanin biosynthesis in plants. Here we describe the identification and characterization of AaMYB2, a member in subgroup 6 of the R2R3-MYB TFs family, which correlated with anthocyanin biosynthesis in A. andraeanum. AaMYB2 was a nuclear-localization protein with positive transcriptional activity, and prominently expressed in the red spathes. Ectopic expression of AaMYB2 in tobacco led to anthocyanin accumulation and up-regulation of the early and late anthocyanin pathway genes, particularly NtDFR, NtANS, and NtUFGT, and the endogenous TF genes NtAn2 and NtAn1 in leaves. In the developing red spathes of ‘Tropical’ and ‘Vitara’, the expression of AaMYB2 was closely linked to anthocyanin accumulation, and co-expressed with AaCHS, AaF3H, and AaANS, the latter two of which were regarded as the potential targets of the R locus encoding a TF controlling spathe colors inheritance in anthurium. In addition, the transcription level of AaMYB2 in various cultivars with different color phenotypes showed that AaMYB2 was drastically expressed in the spathes from the red, pink, and purple cultivars, but hardly detected in the spathes from the white and green ones. Besides, AaMYB2 also showed higher expression in newly developmental leaves when anthocyanin was actively biosynthesized. Taken together, AaMYB2 positively related to anthocyanin biosynthesis in anthurium spathes and leaves, and appeared to regulate the expression of AaF3H, AaANS, and possibly AaCHS.

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Acknowledgments

We sincerely thank Dr. Fei Qiao from Tropical Crops Genetic Resources Institute, CATAS, for his technical assistance in photomicrography. This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31101578; 31400579); the National Spark Program Project of China (2012GA800003); the Grand Special Project on Science and Technology of Hainan Province (ZDZX2013012).

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Tropical Crops Genetic Resources Institute, The Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences (CATAS)/Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Germplasm Enhancement in Southern China, Ministry of Agriculture, Danzhou, 571737, China

      Chonghui Li, Guangsui Yang, Surong Huang & Junmei Yin

    2. Rubber Research Institute, CATAS/Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Resources of Rubber Tree, Ministry of Agriculture, Danzhou, 571737, China

      Jian Qiu

    3. The Engineering Technology Research Center of Tropical Ornamental Plant Germplasm Innovation and Utilization, Danzhou, 571737, Hainan Province, China

      Chonghui Li, Guangsui Yang, Surong Huang & Junmei Yin

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    1. Chonghui Li
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    2. Jian Qiu
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    Correspondence to Junmei Yin.

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    Communicated by Q. Zhao.

    C. Li and J. Qiu contributed equally to this work.

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    Li, C., Qiu, J., Yang, G. et al. Isolation and characterization of a R2R3-MYB transcription factor gene related to anthocyanin biosynthesis in the spathes of Anthurium andraeanum (Hort.). Plant Cell Rep 35, 2151–2165 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-016-2025-8

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