The Scutellaria baicalensis R2R3-MYB transcription factors modulates flavonoid biosynthesis by regulating GA metabolism in transgenic tobacco plants

PLoS One. 2013 Oct 15;8(10):e77275. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0077275. eCollection 2013.

Abstract

R2R3-MYB proteins play role in plant development, response to biotic and abiotic stress, and regulation of primary and secondary metabolism. Little is known about the R2R3-MYB proteins in Scutellaria baicalensis which is an important Chinese medical plant. In this paper, nineteen putative SbMYB genes were identified from a S. baicalensis cDNA library, and eleven R2R3-MYBs were clustered into 5 subgroups according to phylogenetic reconstruction. In the S. baicalensis leaves which were sprayed with GA3, SbMYB2 and SbMYB7 had similar expression pattern with SbPALs, indicating that SbMYB2 and SbMYB7 might be involved in the flavonoid metabolism. Transactivation assay results showed that SbMYB2 and SbMYB7 can function as transcriptional activator. The expression of several flavonoid biosynthesis-related genes were induced or suppressed by overexpression of SbMYB2 or SbMYB7 in transgenic tobacco plants. Consistent with the change of the expression of NtDH29 and NtCHI, the contents of dicaffeoylspermidine and quercetin-3,7-O-diglucoside in SbMYB2-overexpressing or SbMYB7-overexpressing transgenic tobacco plants were decreased. The transcriptional level of NtUFGT in transgenic tobacco overexpressing SbMYB7 and the transcriptional level of NtHCT in SbMYB2-overexpressing tobacco plants were increased; however the application of GA3 inhibited the transcriptional level of these two genes. These results suggest that SbMYB2 and SbMYB7 might regulate the flavonoid biosynthesis through GA metabolism.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Flavonoids / biosynthesis*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / drug effects
  • Gibberellins / metabolism
  • Gibberellins / pharmacology
  • Intracellular Space / metabolism
  • Nicotiana / genetics*
  • Nicotiana / metabolism*
  • Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyase / genetics
  • Phylogeny
  • Plant Proteins / genetics
  • Plant Proteins / metabolism*
  • Plants, Genetically Modified
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics
  • Protein Transport
  • Scutellaria baicalensis / cytology
  • Scutellaria baicalensis / genetics*
  • Scutellaria baicalensis / metabolism*
  • Spermidine / biosynthesis
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Transcriptional Activation / drug effects

Substances

  • Flavonoids
  • Gibberellins
  • Plant Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyase
  • Spermidine

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Scientific and technological research of Chinese medicine Program (06-07ZP51), Beijing nova program (2008B82) and the Self-selection program of China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ZZ2008062). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.