Isolation and Analysis of Anthocyanin Pathway Genes from Genus Reveals MYB Gene with Potent Anthocyanin-Inducing Capabilities.

Horticultural crops of the genus are valued for their anthocyanin-rich fruits, but until now, there were no data about the genes and regulation of their flavonoid pathway. In this study, the coding sequences of flavonoid pathway enzymes and their putative regulators MYB10, bHLH3 and WD40 were isolated, and their expression analyzed in fruits with varying anthocyanin levels from different cultivars of four species belonging to the genus. Transcription levels of anthocyanin synthesis enzymes and the regulatory gene correlated with fruit coloration and anthocyanin quantities of different cultivars.

Expression and Anthocyanin Biosynthesis-Modulating Potential of Sweet Cherry (Prunus avium L.) MYB10 and bHLH Genes.

Anthocyanins are essential contributors to fruit coloration, an important quality feature and a breed determining trait of a sweet cherry fruit. It is well established that the biosynthesis of anthocyanins is regulated by an interplay of specific transcription factors belonging to MYB and bHLH families accompanied by a WD40 protein. In this study, we isolated and analyzed PaWD40, PabHLH3, PabHLH33, and several closely related MYB10 gene variants from different cultivars of sweet cherry, analyzed their expression in fruits with different anthocyanin levels at several developmental stages, and determined their capabilities to modulate anthocyanin synthesis in leaves of two Nicotiana species.