Transcriptomic and targeted metabolomic analysis identifies genes involved in differential anthocyanin accumulation in potato tubers

Purple-fleshed potatoes accumulate high amounts of anthocyanins, which are beneficial to human health. Although the biosynthesis of these secondary metabolites has been well studied in plants, the mechanisms underlying anthocyanin accumulation in different tissue regions of potato tubers remain less...

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Main Authors: Rui Yang, Shuohan Huang, Dan Li, Yuan Sun, Guangdong Zhou, Duanrong Zhou, Binquan Huang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Plant Science
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1615972/full
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author Rui Yang
Shuohan Huang
Dan Li
Yuan Sun
Guangdong Zhou
Duanrong Zhou
Binquan Huang
author_facet Rui Yang
Shuohan Huang
Dan Li
Yuan Sun
Guangdong Zhou
Duanrong Zhou
Binquan Huang
author_sort Rui Yang
collection DOAJ
description Purple-fleshed potatoes accumulate high amounts of anthocyanins, which are beneficial to human health. Although the biosynthesis of these secondary metabolites has been well studied in plants, the mechanisms underlying anthocyanin accumulation in different tissue regions of potato tubers remain less understood. To identify genes and metabolites involved in anthocyanin accumulation, we performed comparative transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses of pith and vasculature tissues from the tubers of three different potato cultivars. Anthocyanin-targeted metabolome analysis revealed that 20 anthocyanins were key metabolites conferring purple pigmentation in the tuber. Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis identified 1,924 genes potentially involved in multiple pathways for the biosynthesis of these anthocyanins. In particular, we identified 47 genes that were specifically expressed in the tuber and highly correlated with different anthocyanins. These genes were associated with ATP-binding cassette transporters and phytohormone pathways. Additionally, a core transcription factor, StWRKY44, involved in anthocyanin accumulation in the tuber was identified; it was capable of binding to and activating the promoters of 7 anthocyanin structural genes. This study provides insights into the genes and metabolites underlying anthocyanin accumulation in potato tubers, which will be valuable for future functional studies and breeding efforts.
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issn 1664-462X
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publishDate 2025-06-01
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series Frontiers in Plant Science
spelling doaj-art-be0393c85ea9479aaffca9be2e531b2c2025-08-20T02:36:01ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2025-06-011610.3389/fpls.2025.16159721615972Transcriptomic and targeted metabolomic analysis identifies genes involved in differential anthocyanin accumulation in potato tubersRui YangShuohan HuangDan LiYuan SunGuangdong ZhouDuanrong ZhouBinquan HuangPurple-fleshed potatoes accumulate high amounts of anthocyanins, which are beneficial to human health. Although the biosynthesis of these secondary metabolites has been well studied in plants, the mechanisms underlying anthocyanin accumulation in different tissue regions of potato tubers remain less understood. To identify genes and metabolites involved in anthocyanin accumulation, we performed comparative transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses of pith and vasculature tissues from the tubers of three different potato cultivars. Anthocyanin-targeted metabolome analysis revealed that 20 anthocyanins were key metabolites conferring purple pigmentation in the tuber. Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis identified 1,924 genes potentially involved in multiple pathways for the biosynthesis of these anthocyanins. In particular, we identified 47 genes that were specifically expressed in the tuber and highly correlated with different anthocyanins. These genes were associated with ATP-binding cassette transporters and phytohormone pathways. Additionally, a core transcription factor, StWRKY44, involved in anthocyanin accumulation in the tuber was identified; it was capable of binding to and activating the promoters of 7 anthocyanin structural genes. This study provides insights into the genes and metabolites underlying anthocyanin accumulation in potato tubers, which will be valuable for future functional studies and breeding efforts.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1615972/fullpotato tuberanthocyanintranscriptomemetabolomeregulatory networkStWRKY44
spellingShingle Rui Yang
Shuohan Huang
Dan Li
Yuan Sun
Guangdong Zhou
Duanrong Zhou
Binquan Huang
Transcriptomic and targeted metabolomic analysis identifies genes involved in differential anthocyanin accumulation in potato tubers
Frontiers in Plant Science
potato tuber
anthocyanin
transcriptome
metabolome
regulatory network
StWRKY44
title Transcriptomic and targeted metabolomic analysis identifies genes involved in differential anthocyanin accumulation in potato tubers
title_full Transcriptomic and targeted metabolomic analysis identifies genes involved in differential anthocyanin accumulation in potato tubers
title_fullStr Transcriptomic and targeted metabolomic analysis identifies genes involved in differential anthocyanin accumulation in potato tubers
title_full_unstemmed Transcriptomic and targeted metabolomic analysis identifies genes involved in differential anthocyanin accumulation in potato tubers
title_short Transcriptomic and targeted metabolomic analysis identifies genes involved in differential anthocyanin accumulation in potato tubers
title_sort transcriptomic and targeted metabolomic analysis identifies genes involved in differential anthocyanin accumulation in potato tubers
topic potato tuber
anthocyanin
transcriptome
metabolome
regulatory network
StWRKY44
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1615972/full
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AT danli transcriptomicandtargetedmetabolomicanalysisidentifiesgenesinvolvedindifferentialanthocyaninaccumulationinpotatotubers
AT yuansun transcriptomicandtargetedmetabolomicanalysisidentifiesgenesinvolvedindifferentialanthocyaninaccumulationinpotatotubers
AT guangdongzhou transcriptomicandtargetedmetabolomicanalysisidentifiesgenesinvolvedindifferentialanthocyaninaccumulationinpotatotubers
AT duanrongzhou transcriptomicandtargetedmetabolomicanalysisidentifiesgenesinvolvedindifferentialanthocyaninaccumulationinpotatotubers
AT binquanhuang transcriptomicandtargetedmetabolomicanalysisidentifiesgenesinvolvedindifferentialanthocyaninaccumulationinpotatotubers