title: Gene expression changes related to the production of phenolic compounds in potato tubers grown under drought stress.
abstract: 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.
authors: 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.
authors: Christelle M
authors: CM
authors: André
authors: Germplasm Enhancement and Crop Improvement Division, International Potato Center, Avenida La Molina 1895, Apartado 1558, La Molina, Lima 12, Peru.
authors: Roland
authors: R
authors: Schafleitner
authors: Department 'Environment and Agro-Biotechnologies', Centre de Recherche Public-Gabriel Lippmann, Rue du Brill, 41, L-4422 Belvaux, Luxembourg.
authors: Sylvain
authors: S
authors: Legay
authors: Department 'Environment and Agro-Biotechnologies', Centre de Recherche Public-Gabriel Lippmann, Rue du Brill, 41, L-4422 Belvaux, Luxembourg.
authors: Isabelle
authors: I
authors: Lefèvre
authors: Germplasm Enhancement and Crop Improvement Division, International Potato Center, Avenida La Molina 1895, Apartado 1558, La Molina, Lima 12, Peru.
authors: Carlos A Alvarado
authors: CAA
authors: Aliaga
authors: Germplasm Enhancement and Crop Improvement Division, International Potato Center, Avenida La Molina 1895, Apartado 1558, La Molina, Lima 12, Peru.
authors: Giannina
authors: G
authors: Nomberto
authors: Department 'Environment and Agro-Biotechnologies', Centre de Recherche Public-Gabriel Lippmann, Rue du Brill, 41, L-4422 Belvaux, Luxembourg.
authors: Lucien
authors: L
authors: Hoffmann
authors: Department 'Environment and Agro-Biotechnologies', Centre de Recherche Public-Gabriel Lippmann, Rue du Brill, 41, L-4422 Belvaux, Luxembourg.
authors: Jean-François
authors: JF
authors: Hausman
authors: Institut des Sciences de la Vie, Université Catholique de Louvain, Croix du Sud 2/8, B-1348 Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium.
authors: Yvan
authors: Y
authors: Larondelle
authors: Department 'Environment and Agro-Biotechnologies', Centre de Recherche Public-Gabriel Lippmann, Rue du Brill, 41, L-4422 Belvaux, Luxembourg. Electronic address: evers@lippmann.lu.
authors: Danièle
authors: D
authors: Evers
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D005419:Flavonoids; D010636:Phenols; D059808:Polyphenols; D002726:Chlorogenic Acid