Molecular basis of ligand recognition specificity of flavone glucosyltransferases in Nemophila menziesii.

Of the more than 100 families of glycosyltransferases, family 1 glycosyltransferases catalyze glycosylation using uridine diphosphate (UDP)-sugar as a sugar donor and are thus referred to as UDP-sugar:glycosyl transferases. The blue color of the Nemophila menziesii flower is derived from metalloanthocyanin, which consists of anthocyanin, flavone, and metal ions. Flavone 7-O-β-glucoside-4'-O-β-glucoside in the plant is sequentially biosynthesized from flavons by UDP-glucose:flavone 4'-O-glucosyltransferase (NmF4'GT) and UDP-glucose:flavone 4'-O-glucoside 7-O-glucosyltransferase (NmF4'G7GT).

Different Plant Species Have Common Sequence Features Related to mRNA Degradation Intermediates.

mRNA degradation is an important cellular mechanism involved in the control of gene expression. Several genome-wide profiling methods have been developed for detecting mRNA degradation in plants and animals. However, because many of these techniques use poly (A) mRNA for library preparation, degradation intermediates are often only detected near the 3'-ends of transcripts.

Identification and Characterization of Novel Nemophila menziesii Flavone Glucosyltransferases that Catalyze Biosynthesis of Flavone 7,4'-O-Diglucoside, a Key Component of Blue Metalloanthocyanins.

The brilliant blue color of the Nemophila menziesii flower is derived from metalloanthocyanin, which consists of anthocyanin {petunidin 3-O-[6-O-(trans-p-coumaroyl)-β-glucoside]-5-O-[6-O-(malonyl)-β-glucoside]}, flavone [apigenin 7-O-β-glucoside-4'-O-(6-O-malonyl)-O-β-glucoside] and metal ions (Mg2+, Fe3+). Although the two glucosyl moieties at the apigenin 7-O and 4'-O positions are essential for metalloanthocyanin formation, the mechanism of glucosylation has not yet been clarified. In this study, we used crude protein extract prepared from N.

Molecular cloning of flavonoid biosynthetic genes and biochemical characterization of anthocyanin -methyltransferase of Hook. and Arn.

Blue flower color of Hook. and Arn. is derived from a metalloanthocyanin, nemophilin, which comprises petunidin-3--[6--(--coumaroyl)-β-glucoside]-5--[6--(malonyl)-β-glucoside], apigenin-7--β-glucoside-4'--(6--malonyl)-β-glucoside, and Mg and Fe ions.