Genetic variation and gene expression of anthocyanin synthesis and transport related enzymes in Oryza sativa against thiocyanate.

Plants exposed to environmental contaminants often synthesize anthocyanins (ATHs) as an approach to safeguard themselves from adverse impact. However, the overload of ATHs in plant cells can threaten their growth and development through proteins oxidization and intercalating with DNAs inside cells. In the present study, a microcosm hydroponic experiment was conducted using rice seedlings to investigate the molecular signaling pathways involved in regulating and controlling ATHs synthesis and transport exposed to thiocyanate (SCN). Our results indicated that SCN exposure significantly (p < 0.05) increased the expression of ATHs synthesis related genes (i.e., PAL, CHS, ANS, UFGT genes) in rice tissues, altered the activities of these ATHs synthesis related enzymes, and consequently elevated the ATHs content. However, SCN exposure significantly decreased the expression of ATHs transport related genes (i.e., GST, ABC, MATE genes) in rice seedlings, suggesting that SCN exposure have restrained ATHs transport from cytosol to vacuole in cells, eventually posing a significant adverse effect on cells survival. Our findings highlight on one of the plant aspects in managing the toxicity triggered by secondary metabolites under stress conditions.