title: Cloning and expression of UDP-glucose: flavonoid 3-O-glucosyltransferase gene in peach flowers.
abstract: To elucidate the connection between flower coloration and the expression of genes associated with anthocyanin biosynthesis, a gene encoding UDP-glucose: flavonoid 3-O-glucosyltransferase (UFGT) was isolated, and the expression of the last four genes in the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway during peach flower development was determined. The nucleotide sequence of the peach UFGT (GenBank accession No. JX149550) is highly similar to its homologs in other plants. Total anthocyanin content initially increased during peach flower development, and then decreased over time. Expression of the four anthocyanin biosynthesis genes increased until the full-bloom stage, and then decreased during late florescence. Expression of F3H, DFR, and UFGT increased dramatically at the full-bloom stage, coinciding with an increase in anthocyanin concentration. The UFGT gene may not be the only gene of the anthocyanin pathway to be differentially controlled in red peach flower tissues. Further studies are needed to genetically and physiologically characterize these genes and enzymes in peach flowers and to gain a better understanding of their functions and relationships with flower coloration.
authors.affiliation: College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: X C
authors.initials: XC
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.affiliation: College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: X P
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Leng
authors.affiliation: Institute of Horticulture, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China weibingj@sohu.com.
authors.forename: W B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Fang
mesh_terms: D000872:Anthocyanins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D053898:Biosynthetic Pathways / Q000235:genetics; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D035264:Flowers / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics*; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D017343:Genes, Plant; D005964:Glucosyltransferases / Q000235:genetics*; D010858:Pigmentation / Q000235:genetics; D027861:Prunus / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D000872:Anthocyanins; D005964:Glucosyltransferases; C023249:flavonol 3-O-glucosyltransferase