Negative Regulation of Anthocyanin Biosynthesis in Arabidopsis by a miR156-Targeted SPL Transcription Factor

Flavonoids are synthesized through an important metabolic pathway that leads to the production of diverse secondary metabolites, including anthocyanins, flavonols, flavones, and proanthocyanidins. Anthocyanins and flavonols are derived from Phe and share common precursors, dihydroflavonols, which ar...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Plant cell 2011-04, Vol.23 (4), p.1512-1522
Main Authors: Gou, Jin-Ying, Felippes, Felipe F., Liu, Chang-Jun, Weigel, Detlef, Wang, Jia-Wei
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alcohol Oxidoreductases - genetics
Alcohol Oxidoreductases - metabolism
Anthocyanins - biosynthesis
Anthocyanins - chemistry
Arabidopsis - genetics
Arabidopsis - metabolism
Arabidopsis Proteins - genetics
Arabidopsis Proteins - metabolism
Arabidopsis thaliana
Biosynthesis
Chromatography, Liquid
Flavonoids
Flavonols
Gene expression regulation
Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
Genes
Genes, Plant - genetics
Mass Spectrometry
MicroRNA
MicroRNAs - metabolism
Models, Biological
Multiprotein Complexes - metabolism
Plant cells
Plants
Plants, Genetically Modified
Promoter Regions, Genetic - genetics
Protein Binding
Seedlings
Stems
Trans-Activators - genetics
Trans-Activators - metabolism
Transcription Factors - genetics
Transcription Factors - metabolism
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Summary:Flavonoids are synthesized through an important metabolic pathway that leads to the production of diverse secondary metabolites, including anthocyanins, flavonols, flavones, and proanthocyanidins. Anthocyanins and flavonols are derived from Phe and share common precursors, dihydroflavonols, which are substrates for both flavonol synthase and dihydrof lavonol 4-reductase. In the stems of Arabidopsis thaliana, anthocyanins accumulate in an acropetal manner, with the highest level at the junction between rosette and stem. We show here that this accumulation pattern is under the regulation of miR156-targeted SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE {SPL) genes, which are deeply conserved and known to have important roles in regulating phase change and flowering. Increased miR156 activity promotes accumulation of anthocyanins, whereas reduced miR156 activity results in high levels of flavonols. We further provide evidence that at least one of the miR156 targets, SPL9, negatively regulates anthocyanin accumulation by directly preventing expression of anthocyanin biosynthetic genes through destabilization of a MYB-bHLH-WD40 transcriptional activation complex. Our results reveal a direct link between the transition to flowering and secondary metabolism and provide a potential target for manipulation of anthocyanin and flavonol content in plants.
ISSN:1040-4651
1532-298X
DOI:10.1105/tpc.111.084525