The flavonol branch of flavonoid biosynthesis is under transcriptional control of the R2R3-MYBs production of flavonol glycoside1 (PFG1/MYB12, PFG2/MYB11 and PFG3/MYB111) in Arabidopsis thaliana. Here, we investigated the influence of specific PFG transcription factors on flavonol distribution in various organs. A combination of genetic and metabolite analysis was used to identify transcription factor gene-metabolite correlations of the flavonol metabolic pathway. Flavonol glycoside accumulation patterns have been analysed in wild-type and multiple R2R3-MYB PFG mutants in an organ- and development-dependent manner using high-performance thin-layer chromatography, supplemented with liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy metabolite profiling. Our results clearly demonstrate a differential influence of MYB11, MYB12 and MYB111 on the spatial accumulation of specific flavonol derivatives in leaves, stems, inflorescences, siliques and roots. In addition, MYB11-, MYB12- and MYB111-independent flavonol glycoside accumulation was observed in pollen grains and siliques/seeds. The highly complex tissue- and developmental-specific regulation of flavonol biosynthesis in A. thaliana is orchestrated by at least four PFG transcription factors, differentially influencing the spatial accumulation of specific flavonol derivatives. We present evidence that a separate flavonol control mechanism might be at play in pollen.
© The Authors (2010). Journal compilation © New Phytologist Trust (2010).