A small family of MYB-regulatory genes controls floral pigmentation intensity and patterning in the genus Antirrhinum.
The Rosea1, Rosea2, and Venosa genes encode MYB-related transcription factors active in the flowers of Antirrhinum majus. Analysis of mutant phenotypes shows that these genes control the intensity and pattern of magenta anthocyanin pigmentation in flowers. Despite the structural similarity of these regulatory proteins, they influence the expression of target genes encoding the enzymes of anthocyanin biosynthesis with different specificities. Consequently, they are not equivalent biochemically in their activities. Different species of the genus Antirrhinum, native to Spain and Portugal, show striking differences in their patterns and intensities of floral pigmentation. Differences in anthocyanin pigmentation between at least six species are attributable to variations in the activity of the Rosea and Venosa loci. Set in the context of our understanding of the regulation of anthocyanin production in other genera, the activity of MYB-related genes is probably a primary cause of natural variation in anthocyanin pigmentation in plants.
New Zealand Institute for Crop and Food Research Limited, Private Bag 11600, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
Kathy
K
Schwinn
Julien
J
Venail
Yongjin
Y
Shang
Steve
S
Mackay
Vibeke
V
Alm
Eugenio
E
Butelli
Ryan
R
Oyama
Paul
P
Bailey
Kevin
K
Davies
Cathie
C
Martin
D000872:Anthocyanins / Q000235:genetics; D032161:Antirrhinum / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D035264:Flowers / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D020570:Genes, myb; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010641:Phenotype; D010802:Phylogeny; D010858:Pigmentation / Q000235:genetics*; D011174:Portugal; D013030:Spain; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D000872:Anthocyanins; D014157:Transcription Factors