Mapping of an anthocyanin-regulating MYB transcription factor and its expression in red and green pear, Pyrus communis.
'Max Red Bartlett' is a red bud mutation of the yellow pear (Pyrus communis L.) cultivar 'Williams' (known as 'Bartlett' in North America). Anthocyanins are the most important pigments for red colour in fruits. Synthesis of anthocyanins is mediated by a number of well-characterized enzymes that include chalcone synthase (CHS), flavanone-3-hydroxylase (F3H), dihydroflavonol-4-reductase (DFR), anthocyanidin synthase (ANS), and UDP-glucose:flavonoid-3-O-glucosyltransferase (UFGT). Expression of the genes encoding these five enzymes was examined in pear fruit skin in order to elucidate the molecular mechanism for red coloration. In addition, the gene PcMYB10, encoding an R2R3 MYB transcription factor involved in anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway regulation, was isolated from both 'Williams' and 'Max Red Bartlett'. Analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence suggests that this gene is an ortholog of anthocyanin regulators known in other plant species. Its expression level was significantly higher in 'Max Red Bartlett' (red pear) compared with the original yellow variety 'Williams'. Although the map position of PcMYB10 corresponds to that of MdMYBa and MdMYB10, which control pigmentation of apple fruit skin, PcMYB10 is not directly responsible for red versus yellow colour in the two pear varieties, as the mutation underlying this difference maps to a different region of the pear genome.
Department of Fruit Tree and Woody Plant Sciences (DCA), University of Bologna, viale Fanin 46, 40127 Bologna, Italy.
Luca
L
Pierantoni
Luca
L
Dondini
Paolo
P
De Franceschi
Stefano
S
Musacchi
Brenda S J
BS
Winkel
Silviero
S
Sansavini
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000872:Anthocyanins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D003116:Color; D005638:Fruit / Q000378:metabolism*; D015870:Gene Expression; D017343:Genes, Plant; D018745:Genome, Plant; D027845:Malus / Q000235:genetics; D009154:Mutation; D031989:Pyrus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D013045:Species Specificity; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D000872:Anthocyanins; D014157:Transcription Factors