The Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factor SmbHLH1 Represses Anthocyanin Biosynthesis in Eggplant

Zhaofei Duan; Shiyu Tian; Guobin Yang; Min Wei; Min Wei; Min Wei; Jing Li; Jing Li; Jing Li; Fengjuan Yang; Fengjuan Yang; Fengjuan Yang

doi:10.3389/fpls.2021.757936

Frontiers in Plant Science (Nov 2021)

The Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factor SmbHLH1 Represses Anthocyanin Biosynthesis in Eggplant

Zhaofei Duan,
Shiyu Tian,
Guobin Yang,
Min Wei,
Min Wei,
Min Wei,
Jing Li,
Jing Li,
Jing Li,
Fengjuan Yang,
Fengjuan Yang,
Fengjuan Yang

Affiliations

Zhaofei Duan: State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Shandong, China
Shiyu Tian: State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Shandong, China
Guobin Yang: State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Shandong, China
Min Wei: State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Shandong, China
Min Wei: Scientific Observing and Experimental Station of Facility Agricultural Engineering (Huang-Huai-Hai Region), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shandong, China
Min Wei: Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center for Fruit and Vegetable Production With High Quality and Efficiency, Tai’an, China
Jing Li: State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Shandong, China
Jing Li: Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center for Fruit and Vegetable Production With High Quality and Efficiency, Tai’an, China
Jing Li: Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops in Huanghuai Region, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shandong, China
Fengjuan Yang: State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Shandong, China
Fengjuan Yang: Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center for Fruit and Vegetable Production With High Quality and Efficiency, Tai’an, China
Fengjuan Yang: Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops in Huanghuai Region, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shandong, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2021.757936
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 12

Abstract

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Many basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors (TFs) have been reported to promote anthocyanin biosynthesis in numerous plant species, but little is known about bHLH TFs that inhibit anthocyanin accumulation. In this study, SmbHLH1 from Solanum melongena was identified as a negative regulator of anthocyanin biosynthesis. However, SmbHLH1 showed high identity with SmTT8, which acts as a SmMYB113-dependent positive regulator of anthocyanin-biosynthesis in plants. Overexpression of SmbHLH1 in eggplant caused a dramatic decrease in anthocyanin accumulation. Only the amino acid sequences at the N and C termini of SmbHLH1 differed from the SmTT8 sequence. Expression analysis revealed that the expression pattern of SmbHLH1 was opposite to that of anthocyanin accumulation. Yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) and bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) assays showed that SmbHLH1 could not interact with SmMYB113. Dual-luciferase assay demonstrated that SmbHLH1 directly repressed the expression of SmDFR and SmANS. Our results demonstrate that the biological function of bHLHs in anthocyanin biosynthesis may have evolved and provide new insight into the molecular functions of orthologous genes from different plant species.

Published in Frontiers in Plant Science

ISSN: 1664-462X (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Agriculture: Plant culture
Website: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science

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