title: LcGST4 is an anthocyanin-related glutathione S-transferase gene in Litchi chinensis Sonn.
abstract: A novel LcGST4 was identified and characterized from Litchi chinensis . Expression and functional analysis demonstrated that it might function in anthocyanin accumulation in litchi. Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) have been defined as detoxification enzymes for their ability to recognize reactive electrophilic xenobiotic molecules as well as endogenous secondary metabolites. Anthocyanins are among the few endogenous substrates of GSTs for vacuolar accumulation. The gene encoding a GST protein that is involved in anthocyanin sequestration from Litchi chinensis Sonn. has not been reported. Here, LcGST4, an anthocyanin-related GST, was identified and characterized. Phylogenetic analysis showed that LcGST4 was clustered with other known anthocyanin-related GSTs in the same clade. Expression analysis revealed that the expression pattern of LcGST4 was strongly correlated with anthocyanin accumulation in litchi. ABA- and light-responsive elements were found in the LcGST4 promoter, which is in agreement with the result that the expression of LcGST4 was induced by both ABA and debagging treatment. A GST activity assay in vitro verified that the LcGST4 protein shared universal activity with the GST family. Functional complementation of an Arabidopsis mutant tt19 demonstrated that LcGST4 might function in anthocyanin accumulation in litchi. Dual luciferase assay revealed that the expression of LcGST4 was activated by LcMYB1, a key R2R3-MYB transcription factor that regulates anthocyanin biosynthesis in litchi.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.|Physiological Laboratory for South China Fruits, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
authors.forename: Jietang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.|Physiological Laboratory for South China Fruits, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
authors.forename: Biao
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
authors.forename: Yonghua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.affiliation: Physiological Laboratory for South China Fruits, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
authors.forename: Huicong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China. guibing@scau.edu.cn.|Physiological Laboratory for South China Fruits, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China. guibing@scau.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Guibing
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000040:Abscisic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000872:Anthocyanins / Q000378:metabolism*; D001483:Base Sequence; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000187:drug effects; D017343:Genes, Plant; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D032125:Litchi / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics*; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D010802:Phylogeny; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D016415:Sequence Alignment
chemical_list: D000872:Anthocyanins; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds; D010940:Plant Proteins; D011725:Pyridines; D000040:Abscisic Acid; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; C116093:N-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)-N'-phenylurea
keywords: Anthocyanin; Glutathione S-transferase; Litchi chinensis Sonn.