Molecular mechanism of lycopene cyclases regulating carotenoids ratio in different branches during tea leaf and flower development

Anqi Peng; Xiaoyan Tang; Yingying Feng; Yun Huang; Jilai Cui; Kai Tian; Mengqian Lu; Yifan Zhao; Yuting Pan; Sanjin Wang; Yutong Hu; Wei Zhao; Chuankui Song; Qiang Wang

Horticultural Plant Journal (Dec 2023)

Molecular mechanism of lycopene cyclases regulating carotenoids ratio in different branches during tea leaf and flower development

Anqi Peng,
Xiaoyan Tang,
Yingying Feng,
Yun Huang,
Jilai Cui,
Kai Tian,
Mengqian Lu,
Yifan Zhao,
Yuting Pan,
Sanjin Wang,
Yutong Hu,
Wei Zhao,
Chuankui Song,
Qiang Wang

Affiliations

Anqi Peng: State Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and Utilization and International Joint Laboratory on Tea Chemistry and Health Effects, Anhui Agricultural University, Anhui, Hefei 230036, China
Xiaoyan Tang: State Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and Utilization and International Joint Laboratory on Tea Chemistry and Health Effects, Anhui Agricultural University, Anhui, Hefei 230036, China
Yingying Feng: State Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and Utilization and International Joint Laboratory on Tea Chemistry and Health Effects, Anhui Agricultural University, Anhui, Hefei 230036, China
Yun Huang: Hefei Ecological Environment Monitoring Center, Anhui, Hefei 230036, China
Jilai Cui: State Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and Utilization and International Joint Laboratory on Tea Chemistry and Health Effects, Anhui Agricultural University, Anhui, Hefei 230036, China; College of Life Science, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang, Henan 464000, China
Kai Tian: Henan Field Observation and Research Station of Headwork Wetland Ecosystem of the Central Route of South-to-North Water Diversion Project, School of Life Sciences and Agricultural Engineering, Nanyang Normal University, Nanyang, Henan 473061, China
Mengqian Lu: State Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and Utilization and International Joint Laboratory on Tea Chemistry and Health Effects, Anhui Agricultural University, Anhui, Hefei 230036, China
Yifan Zhao: State Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and Utilization and International Joint Laboratory on Tea Chemistry and Health Effects, Anhui Agricultural University, Anhui, Hefei 230036, China
Yuting Pan: State Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and Utilization and International Joint Laboratory on Tea Chemistry and Health Effects, Anhui Agricultural University, Anhui, Hefei 230036, China
Sanjin Wang: State Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and Utilization and International Joint Laboratory on Tea Chemistry and Health Effects, Anhui Agricultural University, Anhui, Hefei 230036, China
Yutong Hu: State Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and Utilization and International Joint Laboratory on Tea Chemistry and Health Effects, Anhui Agricultural University, Anhui, Hefei 230036, China
Wei Zhao: State Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and Utilization and International Joint Laboratory on Tea Chemistry and Health Effects, Anhui Agricultural University, Anhui, Hefei 230036, China
Chuankui Song: State Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and Utilization and International Joint Laboratory on Tea Chemistry and Health Effects, Anhui Agricultural University, Anhui, Hefei 230036, China; Corresponding authors.
Qiang Wang: State Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and Utilization and International Joint Laboratory on Tea Chemistry and Health Effects, Anhui Agricultural University, Anhui, Hefei 230036, China; Corresponding authors.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 9, no. 6
pp. 1177 – 1192

Abstract

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Carotenoids are essential components in tea quality, contributing to leaf color and aroma. However, little information about carotenoids in different tea cultivars and their biosynthesis regulation mechanism during leaf development is known. Here we analyzed carotenoids by HPLC in the buds and leaves of 113 tea cultivars harvested on the same day. By profile clustering, carotenoids were divided into five groups. Same group cultivars displayed divergence in the total content of carotenoids but a similar molar ratio. To figure out the molecular mechanisms of this phenomenon, we further characterized all functional lycopene cyclases, which are the branch point of the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway. Two β-lycopene cyclases (CsLCYB1 and CsLCYB2) and one ε-lycopene cyclase (CsLCYE1) were cloned. Subcellular localization analysis showed that all cloned CsLCYs were localized in plastids. Enzyme activity assays in E. coli indicated both CsLCYBs catalyzed lycopene into β-carotene, and CsLCYE1 produced δ-carotene and ε-carotene. We found CsLCYB1 and CsLCYE1 predominantly expressed in leaf, while CsLCYB2 was mainly expressed during flowering stages. Suppression by antisense oligonucleotides reduced CsLCYB1 and CsLCYE1 transcripts and led to reduction of both β,β-branch and β,ε-branch carotenoids in leaf. The expression levels of CsLCYB1 showed a significant positive correlation with β,β-branch carotenoids in leaf. Our study provides carotenoid profiles of different tea cultivars, which can assist tea producers in selecting cultivars of interest. Meanwhile, we proposed the molecular mechanism of carotenoids reflecting the tenderness of tea plant leaf from a metabolic flux perspective, and suggested lycopene cyclase that could be applied to the breeding of tea varieties with different branch carotenoids.

Published in Horticultural Plant Journal

ISSN: 2095-9885 (Print); 2468-0141 (Online)
Publisher: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
Country of publisher: China
LCC subjects: Agriculture: Plant culture
Website: https://www.keaipublishing.com/en/journals/horticultural-plant-journal/

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