Gene expression changes related to the production of phenolic compounds in potato tubers grown under drought stress.
Polyphenols represent a large family of plant secondary metabolites implicated in the prevention of various diseases such as cancers and cardiovascular diseases. The potato is a significant source of polyphenols in the human diet. In this study, we examined the expression of thirteen genes involved in the biosynthesis of polyphenols in potato tubers using real-time RT-PCR. A selection of five field grown native Andean cultivars, presenting contrasting polyphenol profiles, was used. Moreover, we investigated the expression of the genes after a drought exposure. We concluded that the diverse polyphenolic profiles are correlated to variations in gene expression profiles. The drought-induced variations of the gene expression was highly cultivar-specific. In the three anthocyanin-containing cultivars, gene expression was coordinated and reflected at the metabolite level supporting a hypothesis that regulation of gene expression plays an essential role in the potato polyphenol production. We proposed that the altered sucrose flux induced by the drought stress is partly responsible for the changes in gene expression. This study provides information on key polyphenol biosynthetic and regulatory genes, which could be useful in the development of potato varieties with enhanced health and nutritional benefits.
André
Christelle M
CM
Department 'Environment and Agro-Biotechnologies', Centre de Recherche Public-Gabriel Lippmann, Rue du Brill, 41, L-4422 Belvaux, Luxembourg; Institut des Sciences de la Vie, Université Catholique de Louvain, Croix du Sud 2/8, B-1348 Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium.
Schafleitner
Roland
R
Germplasm Enhancement and Crop Improvement Division, International Potato Center, Avenida La Molina 1895, Apartado 1558, La Molina, Lima 12, Peru.
Legay
Sylvain
S
Department 'Environment and Agro-Biotechnologies', Centre de Recherche Public-Gabriel Lippmann, Rue du Brill, 41, L-4422 Belvaux, Luxembourg.
Lefèvre
Isabelle
I
Department 'Environment and Agro-Biotechnologies', Centre de Recherche Public-Gabriel Lippmann, Rue du Brill, 41, L-4422 Belvaux, Luxembourg.
Aliaga
Carlos A Alvarado
CAA
Germplasm Enhancement and Crop Improvement Division, International Potato Center, Avenida La Molina 1895, Apartado 1558, La Molina, Lima 12, Peru.
Nomberto
Giannina
G
Germplasm Enhancement and Crop Improvement Division, International Potato Center, Avenida La Molina 1895, Apartado 1558, La Molina, Lima 12, Peru.
Hoffmann
Lucien
L
Department 'Environment and Agro-Biotechnologies', Centre de Recherche Public-Gabriel Lippmann, Rue du Brill, 41, L-4422 Belvaux, Luxembourg.
Hausman
Jean-François
JF
Department 'Environment and Agro-Biotechnologies', Centre de Recherche Public-Gabriel Lippmann, Rue du Brill, 41, L-4422 Belvaux, Luxembourg.
Larondelle
Yvan
Y
Institut des Sciences de la Vie, Université Catholique de Louvain, Croix du Sud 2/8, B-1348 Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium.
Evers
Danièle
D
Department 'Environment and Agro-Biotechnologies', Centre de Recherche Public-Gabriel Lippmann, Rue du Brill, 41, L-4422 Belvaux, Luxembourg. Electronic address: evers@lippmann.lu.
D002726:Chlorogenic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D055864:Droughts; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D006801:Humans; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D035281:Plant Tubers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D059808:Polyphenols; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D011198:Solanum tuberosum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism
D005419:Flavonoids; D010636:Phenols; D059808:Polyphenols; D002726:Chlorogenic Acid