5-Aminolevulinic acid activates the MdWRKY71-MdMADS1 module to enhance anthocyanin biosynthesis in apple
Abstract 5-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA), as a natural plant growth regulator, is well known for promoting red fruit coloring by enhancing anthocyanin accumulation. However, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. In this study, we firstly demonstrated that ALA upregulates gene expression of the trans...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Molecular Horticulture |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s43897-024-00127-x |
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| author | Liuzi Zhang Huihui Tao Jianting Zhang Yuyan An Liangju Wang |
| author_facet | Liuzi Zhang Huihui Tao Jianting Zhang Yuyan An Liangju Wang |
| author_sort | Liuzi Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract 5-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA), as a natural plant growth regulator, is well known for promoting red fruit coloring by enhancing anthocyanin accumulation. However, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. In this study, we firstly demonstrated that ALA upregulates gene expression of the transcription factor MdMADS1, which in turn directly binds to and activates transcription of the key anthocyanin biosynthetic genes, MdCHS and MdUFGT. Then, we identified a novel WRKY transcription factor, MdWRKY71, that interacts with MdMADS1. Through gene manipulation, we revealed that MdWRKY71 plays a pivotal role in ALA-induced anthocyanin accumulation, highlighting its regulatory significance in this process. Further investigation unveiled that MdWRKY71 not only activates MdMADS1 transcription but also enhances its transcriptional activation on its target genes, MdCHS and MdUFGT. Additionally, we discovered that MdWRKY71 independently binds to and activates the transcription of two other anthocyanin biosynthetic genes, MdANS and MdDFR. The protein–protein interaction between MdWRKY71 and MdMADS1 amplifies the transcriptional activation of these genes by MdWRKY71. These findings delineate a fine and complex regulatory framework where MdWRKY71 and MdMADS1 coordinately regulate anthocyanin biosynthesis in apples, providing new insights into the molecular control of fruit coloration and offering potential target genes for breeding aimed at enhancing fruit quality. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bec98fd490824f6fa49db4441c35af63 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2730-9401 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Molecular Horticulture |
| spelling | doaj-art-bec98fd490824f6fa49db4441c35af632025-02-09T12:54:14ZengBMCMolecular Horticulture2730-94012025-02-015111810.1186/s43897-024-00127-x5-Aminolevulinic acid activates the MdWRKY71-MdMADS1 module to enhance anthocyanin biosynthesis in appleLiuzi Zhang0Huihui Tao1Jianting Zhang2Yuyan An3Liangju Wang4College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural UniversityCollege of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural UniversityCollege of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural UniversityCollege of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal UniversityCollege of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural UniversityAbstract 5-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA), as a natural plant growth regulator, is well known for promoting red fruit coloring by enhancing anthocyanin accumulation. However, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. In this study, we firstly demonstrated that ALA upregulates gene expression of the transcription factor MdMADS1, which in turn directly binds to and activates transcription of the key anthocyanin biosynthetic genes, MdCHS and MdUFGT. Then, we identified a novel WRKY transcription factor, MdWRKY71, that interacts with MdMADS1. Through gene manipulation, we revealed that MdWRKY71 plays a pivotal role in ALA-induced anthocyanin accumulation, highlighting its regulatory significance in this process. Further investigation unveiled that MdWRKY71 not only activates MdMADS1 transcription but also enhances its transcriptional activation on its target genes, MdCHS and MdUFGT. Additionally, we discovered that MdWRKY71 independently binds to and activates the transcription of two other anthocyanin biosynthetic genes, MdANS and MdDFR. The protein–protein interaction between MdWRKY71 and MdMADS1 amplifies the transcriptional activation of these genes by MdWRKY71. These findings delineate a fine and complex regulatory framework where MdWRKY71 and MdMADS1 coordinately regulate anthocyanin biosynthesis in apples, providing new insights into the molecular control of fruit coloration and offering potential target genes for breeding aimed at enhancing fruit quality.https://doi.org/10.1186/s43897-024-00127-x5-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA)Anthocyanin biosynthesisAppleMdWRK71-MdMADS1 moduleTranscriptional regulation |
| spellingShingle | Liuzi Zhang Huihui Tao Jianting Zhang Yuyan An Liangju Wang 5-Aminolevulinic acid activates the MdWRKY71-MdMADS1 module to enhance anthocyanin biosynthesis in apple Molecular Horticulture 5-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA) Anthocyanin biosynthesis Apple MdWRK71-MdMADS1 module Transcriptional regulation |
| title | 5-Aminolevulinic acid activates the MdWRKY71-MdMADS1 module to enhance anthocyanin biosynthesis in apple |
| title_full | 5-Aminolevulinic acid activates the MdWRKY71-MdMADS1 module to enhance anthocyanin biosynthesis in apple |
| title_fullStr | 5-Aminolevulinic acid activates the MdWRKY71-MdMADS1 module to enhance anthocyanin biosynthesis in apple |
| title_full_unstemmed | 5-Aminolevulinic acid activates the MdWRKY71-MdMADS1 module to enhance anthocyanin biosynthesis in apple |
| title_short | 5-Aminolevulinic acid activates the MdWRKY71-MdMADS1 module to enhance anthocyanin biosynthesis in apple |
| title_sort | 5 aminolevulinic acid activates the mdwrky71 mdmads1 module to enhance anthocyanin biosynthesis in apple |
| topic | 5-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA) Anthocyanin biosynthesis Apple MdWRK71-MdMADS1 module Transcriptional regulation |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s43897-024-00127-x |
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