title: CCoAOMT Down-Regulation Activates Anthocyanin Biosynthesis in Petunia.
abstract: Anthocyanins and volatile phenylpropenes (isoeugenol and eugenol) in petunia (Petunia hybrida) flowers have the precursor 4-coumaryl coenzyme A (CoA) in common. These phenolics are produced at different stages during flower development. Anthocyanins are synthesized during early stages of flower development and sequestered in vacuoles during the lifespan of the flowers. The production of isoeugenol and eugenol starts when flowers open and peaks after anthesis. To elucidate additional biochemical steps toward (iso)eugenol production, we cloned and characterized a caffeoyl-coenzyme A O-methyltransferase (PhCCoAOMT1) from the petals of the fragrant petunia 'Mitchell'. Recombinant PhCCoAOMT1 indeed catalyzed the methylation of caffeoyl-CoA to produce feruloyl CoA. Silencing of PhCCoAOMT1 resulted in a reduction of eugenol production but not of isoeugenol. Unexpectedly, the transgenic plants had purple-colored leaves and pink flowers, despite the fact that cv Mitchell lacks the functional R2R3-MYB master regulator ANTHOCYANIN2 and has normally white flowers. Our results indicate that down-regulation of PhCCoAOMT1 activated the anthocyanin pathway through the R2R3-MYBs PURPLE HAZE (PHZ) and DEEP PURPLE, with predominantly petunidin accumulating. Feeding cv Mitchell flowers with caffeic acid induced PHZ expression, suggesting that the metabolic perturbation of the phenylpropanoid pathway underlies the activation of the anthocyanin pathway. Our results demonstrate a role for PhCCoAOMT1 in phenylpropene production and reveal a link between PhCCoAOMT1 and anthocyanin production.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Physiology, University of Amsterdam, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands (N.F.M.S., A.V.M., A.A.R., M.A.H., R.C.S.);Pusat Pengajian Sains Marin dan Sekitaran, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia (N.F.M.S.);Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-2063 (J.K.M., B.D.W., N.D.); andHorticulture and Product Physiology, Plant Sciences Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands 6700 AA (J.C.V.).
authors.forename: Nur Fariza M
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Shaipulah
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Physiology, University of Amsterdam, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands (N.F.M.S., A.V.M., A.A.R., M.A.H., R.C.S.);Pusat Pengajian Sains Marin dan Sekitaran, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia (N.F.M.S.);Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-2063 (J.K.M., B.D.W., N.D.); andHorticulture and Product Physiology, Plant Sciences Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands 6700 AA (J.C.V.).
authors.forename: Joëlle K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Muhlemann
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Physiology, University of Amsterdam, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands (N.F.M.S., A.V.M., A.A.R., M.A.H., R.C.S.);Pusat Pengajian Sains Marin dan Sekitaran, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia (N.F.M.S.);Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-2063 (J.K.M., B.D.W., N.D.); andHorticulture and Product Physiology, Plant Sciences Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands 6700 AA (J.C.V.).
authors.forename: Benjamin D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Woodworth
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Physiology, University of Amsterdam, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands (N.F.M.S., A.V.M., A.A.R., M.A.H., R.C.S.);Pusat Pengajian Sains Marin dan Sekitaran, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia (N.F.M.S.);Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-2063 (J.K.M., B.D.W., N.D.); andHorticulture and Product Physiology, Plant Sciences Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands 6700 AA (J.C.V.).
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Van Moerkercke
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Physiology, University of Amsterdam, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands (N.F.M.S., A.V.M., A.A.R., M.A.H., R.C.S.);Pusat Pengajian Sains Marin dan Sekitaran, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia (N.F.M.S.);Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-2063 (J.K.M., B.D.W., N.D.); andHorticulture and Product Physiology, Plant Sciences Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands 6700 AA (J.C.V.).
authors.forename: Julian C
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1237-7951
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Verdonk
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Physiology, University of Amsterdam, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands (N.F.M.S., A.V.M., A.A.R., M.A.H., R.C.S.);Pusat Pengajian Sains Marin dan Sekitaran, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia (N.F.M.S.);Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-2063 (J.K.M., B.D.W., N.D.); andHorticulture and Product Physiology, Plant Sciences Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands 6700 AA (J.C.V.).
authors.forename: Aldana A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Ramirez
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Physiology, University of Amsterdam, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands (N.F.M.S., A.V.M., A.A.R., M.A.H., R.C.S.);Pusat Pengajian Sains Marin dan Sekitaran, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia (N.F.M.S.);Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-2063 (J.K.M., B.D.W., N.D.); andHorticulture and Product Physiology, Plant Sciences Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands 6700 AA (J.C.V.).
authors.forename: Michel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Haring
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Physiology, University of Amsterdam, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands (N.F.M.S., A.V.M., A.A.R., M.A.H., R.C.S.);Pusat Pengajian Sains Marin dan Sekitaran, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia (N.F.M.S.);Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-2063 (J.K.M., B.D.W., N.D.); andHorticulture and Product Physiology, Plant Sciences Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands 6700 AA (J.C.V.).
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0777-7763
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dudareva
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Physiology, University of Amsterdam, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands (N.F.M.S., A.V.M., A.A.R., M.A.H., R.C.S.);Pusat Pengajian Sains Marin dan Sekitaran, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia (N.F.M.S.);Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-2063 (J.K.M., B.D.W., N.D.); andHorticulture and Product Physiology, Plant Sciences Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands 6700 AA (J.C.V.) r.c.schuurink@uva.nl.
authors.forename: Robert C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Schuurink
mesh_terms: D000214:Acyl Coenzyme A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000872:Anthocyanins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005054:Eugenol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D035264:Flowers / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D008780:Methyltransferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D032306:Petunia / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D010641:Phenotype; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D000214:Acyl Coenzyme A; D000872:Anthocyanins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D005054:Eugenol; C058645:caffeoyl-coenzyme A; C036643:isoeugenol; D008780:Methyltransferases; C059825:caffeoyl-CoA O-methyltransferase; C473206:petunidin