Poster: Late and Moved Abstracts
Abs #
1403: Gene expression analysis of flavonoid biosynthesis in gentian plant
|
|
Presenter: |
Nakatsuka, Takashi , nakatuka@ibrc.or.jp |
Authors | Nakatsuka, Takashi (A) Masahiro, Nishihara (A) Keiichiro, Mishiba (A) Saburo, Yamamura (A) | | Affiliations: |
(A): Iwate Biotechnology Research Center
|
| Web Site: | http://www.ibrc.or.jp/ | |
We are studying on modification of flower color in gentian by genetic engineering. We have already cloned and analyzed some of flavonoid biosynthesis-related genes from gentian (Gentiana triflora cv. Maciry). Here we report the expression analyses of these genes in Japanese 20 cultivars of gentians including 12 cultivars of Iwate prefecture. Total RNAs were isolated from petal, leaf and stem of plants growing in the field. For petal analysis, the developmental stage was divided into four stages, depending on the bud length (from unpigmented bud to opened flower). The following genes were used as probes: CHS, CHI, F3H, F3'H, F3'5'H, DFR, ANS, 3GT, 5AT, FSII. Northern blot analysis through developmental petal stages of cv. Maciry showed that the genes could be classified into at least three groups according to their expression patterns. The first group included the enzymes catalyzing the early steps of flavonoid biosynthesis and the expression decreased gradually. The second included those catalyzing the late steps and the expression was detected at the later stages. The third group F3'H was different and the expression was strong at the petal stage1 and 3. The expression was not detected in stem and leaf tissues except CHI and FSII. The comparison among the cultivars at the petal stage3 revealed that white-flowered cultivars lack the expression of ANS and pink-flowered cultivars have longer F3'5'H mRNA. These results suggested that the different expression of ANS and F3'5'H caused change of flower color, from original blue to white and pink, respectively. We are now analyzing the expression pattern in more details. On the basis of these results, we are planning to transform gentians to make different flower colors.
