title: Cloning and expression analysis of betalain biosynthesis genes in Amaranthus tricolor.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To clone genes involved in the betalain biosynthesis pathway and to assess the effects of phytohormones on betalain biosynthesis in Amaranthus tricolor.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five betalain biosynthesis genes were cloned by reverse transcription PCR and rapid amplification of cDNA ends. Betacyanin analyses revealed that pigments accumulated differently in various tissues and under different phytohormone treatments. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis indicated that gene expression levels did not correlate with pigment accumulation. Notably, gene expression and pigment accumulation were negatively regulated by 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. The expression of AmaDOPA5-GT, AmaDODA, and AmaB5-GT was induced by pigmentation-promoting 6-benzyl aminopurine (6-BA). and pigmentation-inhibiting gibberellin A3 while AmaTyDC expression was suppressed. AmaTyDC expression was also suppressed by pigmentation-promoting kinetin. Additionally, the expression of AmaB6-GT was suppressed by 6-BA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The changes in betacyanin levels among various tissues and following phytohormone treatments were related to the differences in betalain biosynthesis gene expression levels.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Horticultural Biotechnology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, Fujian, China.|Institute of Vegetable Science of Fuzhou, Fuzhou, 350111, Fujian, China.
authors.forename: Xueli
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Institute of Horticultural Biotechnology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, Fujian, China.
authors.forename: Shengcai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Horticultural Biotechnology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, Fujian, China.
authors.forename: Chunzhen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Institute of Horticultural Biotechnology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, Fujian, China.
authors.forename: Rongfang
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Institute of Horticultural Biotechnology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, Fujian, China.
authors.forename: Yukun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Horticultural Biotechnology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, Fujian, China.
authors.forename: Liyang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Institute of Horticultural Biotechnology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, Fujian, China.
authors.forename: Yuyuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.affiliation: Institute of Horticultural Biotechnology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, Fujian, China.
authors.forename: Yuling
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Institute of Horticultural Biotechnology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, Fujian, China.
authors.forename: Zihao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Horticultural Biotechnology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, Fujian, China. laizx01@163.com.
authors.forename: Zhongxiong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lai
mesh_terms: D027721:Amaranthus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D050858:Betalains / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D053898:Biosynthetic Pathways / Q000187:drug effects; D003001:Cloning, Molecular / Q000379:methods; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000187:drug effects; D017343:Genes, Plant; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators / Q000494:pharmacology; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D010937:Plant Growth Regulators; D050858:Betalains
keywords: Amaranthus tricolor; Betalain; Gene cloning; Gene expression; Phytohormone