Transcriptional survey of the light-induced anthocyanin pathway in non-GM purple tomatoes

Anthocyanins are polyphenolic compounds with antioxidant capacity, free radical scavenging power, and signaling activities in animal pathogenesis-associated pathways, thus playing an important role as nutraceuticals. Tomato fruits do not usually contain anthocyanins because their biosynthesis is swi...

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Main Authors: Silvia Gonzali, Jacopo Menconi, Pierdomenico Perata
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-01-01
Series:Frontiers in Plant Physiology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphgy.2024.1507833/full
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author Silvia Gonzali
Jacopo Menconi
Pierdomenico Perata
author_facet Silvia Gonzali
Jacopo Menconi
Pierdomenico Perata
author_sort Silvia Gonzali
collection DOAJ
description Anthocyanins are polyphenolic compounds with antioxidant capacity, free radical scavenging power, and signaling activities in animal pathogenesis-associated pathways, thus playing an important role as nutraceuticals. Tomato fruits do not usually contain anthocyanins because their biosynthesis is switched off in these organs, but anthocyanin-enriched purple tomatoes have been produced in recent years. The varieties obtained by breeding express a functional copy of the R2R3-MYB transcription factor AN2-like, necessary to start the biosynthetic pathway, and do not produce a functional MYB-ATV repressor. The combination of these traits allows the accumulation of anthocyanins in tomatoes, strengthened under specific environmental factors such as high light intensity or low temperatures. Light starts anthocyanin synthesis and gradually extends its distribution on the fruit exocarp. The analyses carried out in the present study indicate that anthocyanin biosynthesis triggered by light is under HY5 control. However, the process is not active in mesocarp for the absence of the bHLH factor AN1, necessary to produce the MBW complex inducing the late enzymes of the biosynthetic pathway, as a consequence of insufficient expression of the R2R3-MYB gene AN2-like. This occurs since light cannot be perceived in the tissues underneath the skin because of the solar shield produced by the anthocyanins accumulated in the exocarp and for the activation of regulatory loops controlling HY5 levels. This is shown by the expression of genes involved in the production of photoreceptors and in the light signaling chain operating upstream of the anthocyanin pathway and responsible for its activation.
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spelling doaj-art-e36799fc46be491280ee965b3fffc3f02025-01-23T06:56:34ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Physiology2813-821X2025-01-01210.3389/fphgy.2024.15078331507833Transcriptional survey of the light-induced anthocyanin pathway in non-GM purple tomatoesSilvia GonzaliJacopo MenconiPierdomenico PerataAnthocyanins are polyphenolic compounds with antioxidant capacity, free radical scavenging power, and signaling activities in animal pathogenesis-associated pathways, thus playing an important role as nutraceuticals. Tomato fruits do not usually contain anthocyanins because their biosynthesis is switched off in these organs, but anthocyanin-enriched purple tomatoes have been produced in recent years. The varieties obtained by breeding express a functional copy of the R2R3-MYB transcription factor AN2-like, necessary to start the biosynthetic pathway, and do not produce a functional MYB-ATV repressor. The combination of these traits allows the accumulation of anthocyanins in tomatoes, strengthened under specific environmental factors such as high light intensity or low temperatures. Light starts anthocyanin synthesis and gradually extends its distribution on the fruit exocarp. The analyses carried out in the present study indicate that anthocyanin biosynthesis triggered by light is under HY5 control. However, the process is not active in mesocarp for the absence of the bHLH factor AN1, necessary to produce the MBW complex inducing the late enzymes of the biosynthetic pathway, as a consequence of insufficient expression of the R2R3-MYB gene AN2-like. This occurs since light cannot be perceived in the tissues underneath the skin because of the solar shield produced by the anthocyanins accumulated in the exocarp and for the activation of regulatory loops controlling HY5 levels. This is shown by the expression of genes involved in the production of photoreceptors and in the light signaling chain operating upstream of the anthocyanin pathway and responsible for its activation.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphgy.2024.1507833/fullSolanum lycopersicumpurple tomatoanthocyaninsMBWDEETIOLATED 1 (DET1)ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL 5 (HY5)
spellingShingle Silvia Gonzali
Jacopo Menconi
Pierdomenico Perata
Transcriptional survey of the light-induced anthocyanin pathway in non-GM purple tomatoes
Frontiers in Plant Physiology
Solanum lycopersicum
purple tomato
anthocyanins
MBW
DEETIOLATED 1 (DET1)
ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL 5 (HY5)
title Transcriptional survey of the light-induced anthocyanin pathway in non-GM purple tomatoes
title_full Transcriptional survey of the light-induced anthocyanin pathway in non-GM purple tomatoes
title_fullStr Transcriptional survey of the light-induced anthocyanin pathway in non-GM purple tomatoes
title_full_unstemmed Transcriptional survey of the light-induced anthocyanin pathway in non-GM purple tomatoes
title_short Transcriptional survey of the light-induced anthocyanin pathway in non-GM purple tomatoes
title_sort transcriptional survey of the light induced anthocyanin pathway in non gm purple tomatoes
topic Solanum lycopersicum
purple tomato
anthocyanins
MBW
DEETIOLATED 1 (DET1)
ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL 5 (HY5)
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphgy.2024.1507833/full
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