红瓤核桃JrbHLHA2转录因子靶向查尔酮合成酶基因JrCHS4调控种皮花青苷合成的功能研究

王 磊1,2,樊 璐2#,李亚奇2,陈俊儒2,孟海军2,吴国良2*

1新疆生产建设兵团塔里木盆地生物资源保护利用重点实验室,新疆阿拉尔 843300;2河南农业大学园艺学院,郑州 450046)

摘 要:【目的】 查尔酮合成酶(CHS)是植物花青苷合成途径中的第一个限速酶,探究红瓤核桃(Juglans regia L.RW-1)查尔酮合成酶(CHS)在种皮花青苷合成中的功能,为红瓤核桃的品种改良提供理论支撑。【方法】 以红瓤核桃RW-1和普通核桃中林1号不同发育期的种皮为材料,根据qRT-PCR结果,筛选并克隆JrCHS4基因;克隆2种核桃JrCHS4的启动子序列,通过GUS 染色和GUS 蛋白定量分析启动子活性差异;通过酵母单杂交(Y1H)和双荧光素酶检测试验(LUC)验证上游bHLH转录因子对JrCHS4启动子的调控作用;通过农杆菌介导将JrCHS4瞬时转化烟草叶片,观察叶片颜色及花青苷含量的变化。【结果】 花后60、120 d时仅JrCHS4在红瓤核桃种皮中的表达量显著高于普通核桃种皮且表达量差异最大,分别约为66.04、11 970.93倍,花后90 d时除JrCHS4在2种核桃种皮中的表达量基本相同外,其他3个JrCHSs在红瓤核桃种皮中的表达量均显著低于普通核桃种皮,推测JrCHS4可能是红瓤核桃种皮花青苷合成的关键基因。GW-JrCHS4启动子与RW-JrCHS4启动子具有98.50%的同源性,含有许多响应激素如脱落酸、乙烯、赤霉素以及与逆境胁迫相关的顺式作用元件,与GW-JrCHS4 启动子相比,RW-JrCHS4 启动子缺失了1 个MYB 结合位点MYB1AT,插入了1 个bHLH 结合位点MYCCONSENSUSAT。GUS 染色结果表明,RW-JrCHS4 启动子诱导产生的蓝色深于GW-JrCHS4启动子诱导产生的蓝色;经GUS蛋白定量检测,RW-JrCHS4启动子活性显著高于GW-JrCHS4启动子活性,约是GW-JrCHS4启动子活性的1.17倍。酵母单杂交试验结果表明,JrbHLHA2可以特异性结合JrCHS4启动子;经LUC 试验进一步验证,JrbHLHA2 能够显著激活JrCHS4 启动子的活性,其LUC/REN 比值约是对照的2.45 倍。瞬时转化JrCHS4 的烟草叶片绿色变浅呈现轻微的红色,总花青苷含量得到了显著提高,约是对照的1.09 倍,表明JrCHS4能够促进花青苷的生物合成与积累。【结论】 红瓤核桃JrbHLHA2转录因子靶向查尔酮合成酶基因JrCHS4是调控红瓤核桃种皮花青苷合成的关键因素。

关键词:红瓤核桃;花青苷;查尔酮合成酶;转录调控

花青苷是植物重要的次生代谢产物,主要存在于高等植物的花、果实、种皮等器官中,使植物呈现不同的色彩,在避免植物受到紫外线伤害、吸引昆虫传粉和抵御低温胁迫等方面起着重要的作用[1]。花青苷的合成由一系列的酶促反应构成,主要包括苯丙氨酸解氨酶(phenylalanine ammonialyase,PAL)、查尔酮合成酶(chalcone synthase,CHS)、查尔酮异构酶(chalcone isomerase,CHI)、黄烷酮-3-羟化酶(flavanone 3-hydroxylase,F3H)、二氢黄酮醇-4-还原酶(dihydroflavonol 4-reductase,DFR)、花青素合成酶(anthocyanidin synthase,ANS)、类黄酮-3-O-糖基转移酶(UDP-glucose:flavonoid-3-O-glucosyltransferase,UFGT)等[2]

查尔酮合成酶(chalcone synthase,CHS)是类黄酮生物合成途径中的第一个关键酶,催化3 分子的丙二酰-CoA 和1 分子的4-香豆酰-CoA 结合形成查尔酮,是类黄酮途径中的第一个呈色物质[3]。大量研究表明,CHS能够影响花青苷的累积水平。在智利草莓[Fragaria chiloensis(L.)Mill.]果实发育过程中,ABA 通过激活FcPALFcCHSFcANS 等花青素途径的关键基因加速果实颜色的积累[4];套袋处理降低了杏果实中包括PaCHS 在内的花青苷合成基因的表达量,从而导致花青苷含量的下降[5]。苹果[6]、梨[7]和柑橘[8]中,CHS基因的表达量随花青苷积累量的增加而升高;实验室前期在红瓤核桃自然杂交后代中鉴定了4 个与花青苷含量呈正相关的JrCHSs基因,但其功能还没有相关研究[9]

bHLH(basic Helix-Loop-Helix,碱性螺旋-环-螺旋)转录因子是植物第二大转录因子家族,其蛋白结构包含两个功能不同的区域,即位于N 端的碱性区域(DNA 识别区)和C 端的HLH 区域(可形成同源或异源二聚体),在植物的生长发育、抵抗胁迫和转导信号等方面发挥着重要作用,是植物花青苷合成的关键调控因子[3]。研究发现,茄子SmbHLH13 可以正向调控茄子F3HCHS基因的表达,促进茄子花青素的合成[10]。笔者课题组前期根据生物信息学与表达分析,筛选出了4 个与红瓤核桃花青苷合成相关的bHLH转录因子基因JrbHLHA1JrbHLHA2JrEGL1aJrEGL1b[11],但对其调控红瓤核桃花青苷生物合成的分子机制比如与JrCHSs 基因的调控关系没有相关研究。

核桃(Juglans regia L.)是世界四大坚果之首,含有丰富的营养成分,被广泛种植和加工利用[12]。据联合国粮食及农业组织(FAO)(http://faostat.fao.org)最新数据统计,2022 年中国核桃收获面积占世界核桃收获面积的28.58%,产量占世界核桃产量的36.14%,均稳居世界首位。中国核桃栽培历史已有3000 多年,具有极丰富的种质资源,目前广泛栽培的核桃品种种皮均为黄白色或浅黄色[13],可选择的外观性状较少。笔者课题组前期在太行山区域发现了珍稀的红瓤核桃种质资源(J.regia L.RW-1),其叶片、果皮和种皮均因富含花青苷而呈红色,但其呈色机制目前尚不清楚,限制了核桃的色泽品质改良。因此,笔者在前期研究的基础上,筛选红瓤核桃种皮花青苷合成关键CHS 基因,探究其与上游Jrb-HLHs 的调控关系,并验证其在花青苷生物合成与积累中发挥的功能与作用,以期解析红瓤核桃种皮花青苷合成与积累的分子机制,为促进红瓤核桃色泽品质的改良及育种奠定基础。

1 材料和方法

1.1 试验材料

供试材料为野生资源红瓤核桃(J.regia L.RW-1,资源编号JUREG4108210002)和普通核桃中林1号(J.regia L.‘Zhonglin 1’),均种植于河南农业大学科教园区毛庄果树资源圃,南北向定植,株行距2 m×3 m,常规肥水管理。选择生长状况良好、长势一致的植株,于花后60、90、120 d采集红瓤核桃RW-1(RW)和普通核桃中林1号(GW)的种皮,采集样品于液氮速冻后置于-80 ℃超低温冰箱中保存备用。

所有用于注射的烟草(Nicotiana tabacum L.)均在温度22 ℃、湿度60%、光照16 h/黑暗8 h 的培养箱中进行培养。

1.2 总花青素含量测定

将样品于液氮中速冻并研磨至粉末状,悬浮于预冷的1%盐酸甲醇溶液中,充分混匀后于4 ℃黑暗浸提24 h,4 ℃条件下12 000g离心10 min收集上清液,检测上清液在波长为530、620、650 nm处的吸光值,代入公式计算:总花青素含量(w,后同)/(mg·g-1)=[(A530-A620)-0.25(A650-A620)]/0.1,进行3次生物学重复[14]

1.3 DNA提取及启动子克隆

使用EZ-10 Spin Column Plant Genomic DNA Purification Kit(生工生物工程股份有限公司,上海)对样品进行DNA 提取[15]JrCHS4 的启动子序列通过核桃基因组[16]预测获得,关键顺式作用元件的分析通过PLACE(https://www.dna.affrc.go.jp/PLACE/?action=newplace)获得。

1.4 RNA 提取与cDNA 合成、实时荧光定量PCR(qRT-PCR)

使用快速通用植物RNA提取试剂盒(北京华越洋生物科技有限公司,北京)对样品进行RNA提取,利用HiScript® ⅢRT SuperMix for qPCR(+gDNA wiper)反转录试剂盒(南京诺唯赞生物科技股份有限公司,南京)对质量合格的RNA进行cDNA合成。

于ABI 7500 实时PCR 系统(Applied Biosystems,Foster City,CA,United States)使用ChamQ Universal SYBR qPCR Master Mix(南京诺唯赞生物科技股份有限公司,南京)进行qRT-PCR 试验。以Jr18S(XM_019004991.1)作为内参基因,基因相对表达水平使用2-△△Ct法计算[17],引物序列见表1。

表1 qRT-PCR、基因克隆和载体构建引物序列
Table 1 Primer sequences for qRT-PCR,gene cloning and vector construction

qRT-JrCHS1-F qRT-JrCHS1-R qRT-JrCHS2-F qRT-JrCHS2-R qRT-JrCHS3-F qRT-JrCHS3-R qRT-JrCHS4-F qRT-JrCHS4-R qRT-18S-F qRT-18S-R qRT-NtActin-F qRT-NtActin-R JrCHS4pro-F JrCHS4pro-R JrCHS4-F JrCHS4-R JrbHLHA1-F JrbHLHA1-R JrbHLHA2-F JrbHLHA2-R JrEGL1a-F JrEGL1a-R JrEGL1b-F JrEGL1b-R CATTCCGAGGGCCTAGTGAC GATGGCCCCATCACTATCGG CATACCCTGACTACTACTTCCG GTGATTTCCGAGCAGACG GCGAAGTAGGCTTGACAT AATATGGCGACTTGCTCTAA CACTCCCTCAAACTGCGTCT CTTGATTGCCTTCGATGCCG ATTGGTTGCGGATCAGGACT GCTCCAATGCAACATCAAGC AATGATCGGAATGGAAGCTG TGGTACCACCACTGAGGACA CTTTGCAATTATGGAGTCCTTTTG GCCTCTTGCTCGGTCCTAGTT ATGGCGTCCATGGAGGA TTAGATATTGACACTGTGCAGCA ATGGCTGCACCGCCGAG TTAAGAGTCTGTGTGGGGGATG ATGGCTGCACCGCCAA CTAAGAGTCATTGTGGGGTATG ATGGCTAATGGCTGTCAAAC TCAACACTTACAAGCAATTTTCC ATGGAGGGGAGAATGCTAGAAAAC TCAACACTTCCTAGTTGATCTCTGG引物名称Primer name引物序列(5'-3')Primer sequence(5'-3')

表1 (续) Table 1 (Continued)

JrCHS4pro-1381-F JrCHS4pro-1381-R JrCHS4pro-pAbAi-F JrCHS4pro-pAbAi-R JrCHS4pro-LUC-F JrCHS4pro-LUC-R JrbHLHA1-AD-F JrbHLHA1-AD-R JrbHLHA2-AD-F JrbHLHA2-AD-R JrEGL1a-AD-F JrEGL1a-AD-R JrEGL1b-AD-F JrEGL1b-AD-R JrCHS4-2300-F JrCHS4-2300-R JrbHLHA2-2300-F JrbHLHA2-2300-R TGGGCCCGGCGCGCCGAATTCCTTTGCAATTATGGAGTCCTTTTG CCTCTTAAAGCTTGGCTGCAGGCCTCTTGCTCGGTCCTAGTT AAATGATGAATTGAAAAGCTTCTTTGCAATTATGGAGTCCTTTTG ATACAGAGCACATGCCTCGAGGCCTCTTGCTCGGTCCTAGTT ACTATAGGGCGAATTGGGTACCCTTTGCAATTATGGAGTCCTTTTG ATCGATACCGTCGACCTCGAGGCCTCTTGCTCGGTCCTAGTT TACGACGTACCAGATTACGCTCATATGATGGCTGCACCGCCGAG TCTACGATTCATCTGCAGCTCGAGTTAAGAGTCTGTGTGGGGGATG TACGACGTACCAGATTACGCTCATATGATGGCTGCACCGCCAA TCTACGATTCATCTGCAGCTCGAGCTAAGAGTCATTGTGGGGTATG TACGACGTACCAGATTACGCTCATATGATGGCTAATGGCTGTCAAAC TCTACGATTCATCTGCAGCTCGAGTCAACACTTACAAGCAATTTTCC TACGACGTACCAGATTACGCTCATATGATGGAGGGGAGAATGCTAGAAAAC TCTACGATTCATCTGCAGCTCGAGTCAACACTTCCTAGTTGATCTCTGG ACGGGGGACGAGCTCGGTACCATGGCGTCCATGGAGGA GGTGTCGACTCTAGAGGATCCGATATTGACACTGTGCAGCA ACGGGGGACGAGCTCGGTACCATGGCTGCACCGCCAA GGTGTCGACTCTAGAGGATCCAGAGTCATTGTGGGGTATG引物名称Primer name引物序列(5'-3')Primer sequence(5'-3')

1.5 GUS染色与GUS蛋白定量检测

从2 种核桃DNA 中分别克隆JrCHS4 启动子片段插入至植物表达载体pCAMBIA1381-GUS,分别转入农杆菌GV3101-pSoup 感受态细胞(北京庄盟国际生物基因科技有限公司,北京),瞬时转化本氏烟草叶片,进行GUS 染色和GUS 蛋白定量分析[18]

1.6 酵母单杂交(Y1H)

将红瓤核桃JrCHS4 启动子片段插入至pAbAi载体,从红瓤核桃cDNA 中克隆JrbHLHs 转录因子编码序列插入至pGADT7 载体。使用经典酵母转化试剂盒(北京酷来搏科技有限公司,北京)进行酵母感受态的制备与转化,以pGADT7 为阴性对照,将含有JrbHLHs-AD 重组质粒的Y1HGold(含RWJrCHS4pro-pAbAi重组质粒)菌株点至AbA浓度梯度的固体SD/-Leu 培养基平板上于29 ℃培养箱培养2~4 d后观察互作情况。

1.7 双荧光素酶报告基因检测(LUC)

将分别带有JrCHS4pro-LUC、JrbHLHA2-2300 重组质粒的农杆菌菌液按1∶9 的体积比混合,注射本氏烟草叶片,使用Dual-Luciferase® Reporter Assay System试剂盒(普洛麦格生物技术有限公司,北京)测定萤火虫荧光素酶LUC 和海肾萤光素酶REN 酶活性,计算LUC/REN比值[19]

1.8 烟草叶片瞬时表达分析

将带有JrCHS4-2300重组质粒的农杆菌菌液注射至大叶烟草叶片,其间仔细观察叶片的颜色变化情况,后采集经注射的烟草叶片于液氮速冻研磨后进行总花青素含量的测定与分析[20]

1.9 数据分析

采用Microsoft Excel 2019软件进行试验数据整理;采用SPSS 21.0 软件进行试验数据统计分析;采用Adobe Photoshop 2021、GraphPad Prism 8 软件绘图。

2 结果与分析

2.1 红瓤核桃不同发育时期种皮CHSs的表达分析

课题组前期根据核桃基因组数据筛选CHS 家族,通过功能注释分析筛选到了4 个可能与花青苷合成相关的CHSs[9]。利用qRT-PCR 检测CHSs 基因在2 种核桃不同发育时期种皮中的表达模式,结果表明花后60、120 d 时4 个CHSs 基因在红瓤核桃种皮中的表达量均显著高于在普通核桃种皮中的表达量,其中JrCHS4gene35863,XM_018966498.2)在2种核桃种皮中的表达量差异最大,分别约为66.04、11 970.93倍;花后90 d时除JrCHS4在2种核桃种皮中的表达量基本相同外,其他3个JrCHSs在红瓤核桃种皮中的表达量均显著低于在普通核桃种皮中的表达量(图1)。因此,推测JrCHS4可能是红瓤核桃种皮花青苷合成的关键基因。

图1 JrCHSs 基因在不同颜色核桃种皮各发育时期的qRT-PCR 表达分析
Fig.1 qRT-PCR expression analysis of JrCHSs gene in different developmental stages of walnut seed coat with different colors

2.2 红瓤核桃JrCHS4启动子的克隆及启动子活性分析

为了研究CHS4基因在红瓤核桃和普通核桃种皮发育中表达趋势的不同是否与其启动子有关,对2 种核桃的CHS4 启动子序列进行了克隆。通过序列比对,GW-JrCHS4启动子与RW-JrCHS4启动子具有98.50%的同源性(图2)。红瓤核桃JrCHS4 启动子含有许多响应激素如脱落酸、乙烯、赤霉素以及与逆境胁迫相关的顺式作用元件,如ABRE、MYC、ERE、GARE、MYB1AT等,与普通核桃JrCHS4启动子相比,缺失了1 个MYB 结合位点MYB1AT,插入了1 个bHLH 结合位点MYCCONSENSUSAT(表2)。

图2 红瓤核桃和普通核桃种皮中JrCHS4 启动子序列比对
Fig.2 Comparison of JrCHS4 promoter sequences between red walnut and normal walnut seed coats

表2 JrCHS4 基因启动子关键顺式作用元件分析
Table 2 Pivotal cis-acting elements analysis of JrCHS4 gene promoter

顺式作用元件Cis-acting element ABRE ERE GARE MBS MYC功能Function脱落酸响应元件Abscisic acid responsive element乙烯响应元件Ethylene-responsive element赤霉素响应元件Gibberellin-responsive element MYB转录因子结合位点;逆境胁迫响应元件MYB transcription factor binding site;Adversity stress responsive element bHLH转录因子结合位点bHLH transcription factor binding site顺式作用元件数量Number of cis-acting elements GW 32588 RW 32579

GUS 染色结果表明,RW-JrCHS4启动子诱导产生的蓝色深于GW-JrCHS4 启动子诱导产生的蓝色(图3-A)。GUS 蛋白定量结果显示,RW-JrCHS4 启动子活性显著高于GW-JrCHS4 启动子活性,约是GW-JrCHS4启动子活性的1.17倍,与上述GUS染色结果相一致(图3-B)。

图3 红瓤核桃和普通核桃种皮中JrCHS4 启动子GUS 活性分析
Fig.3 GUS activity analysis of JrCHS4 promoter in red walnut and normal walnut seed coats

2.3 红瓤核桃JrCHS4启动子上游bHLH转录因子的筛选及验证

为了探究JrCHS4 启动子与4 个花青苷合成相关的bHLH 转录因子JrbHLHA1、JrbHLHA2、JrEGL1a、JrEGL1b 的调控关系,进行了酵母单杂交试验。结果显示,抑制JrCHS4启动子自身表达的最佳AbA 质量浓度为150 ng·mL-1,且仅JrbHLHA2-AD+JrCHS4pro在此AbA质量浓度的SD/-Leu筛选培养基上能够正常生长,其他组合均无法生长(图4-A)。LUC 试验进一步验证了JrbHLHA2 能够显著激活JrCHS4 基因启动子的活性,其LUC/REN 比值约是对照LUC/REN 比值的2.45 倍(图4-B)。以上结果表明,JrbHLHA2 转录因子可以与JrCHS4 的启动子特异性结合并激活其表达。

图4 JrbHLHA2 对JrCHS4 启动子的调控作用分析
Fig.4 Analysis of the regulatory effect of JrbHLHA2 on JrCHS4 promoter

2.4 烟草叶片中过表达红瓤核桃JrCHS4促进花青苷积累

为了验证JrCHS4 在花青苷生物合成与积累中发挥的功能与作用,将JrCHS4构建植物表达载体并瞬时转化至大叶烟草叶片,转化后7 d 左右观察发现,瞬时转化JrCHS4 的烟草叶片与对照相比,绿色变浅,呈现轻微的红色(图5-A)。其中,JrCHS4 在瞬时转化JrCHS4 烟草叶片中的表达量约是在对照烟草叶片中的30.07 倍(图5-B)。对瞬转烟草叶片测定总花青素含量的结果显示,瞬时转化JrCHS4烟草叶片的总花青素含量显著高于对照烟草叶片,约是对照烟草叶片的1.09 倍(图5-C)。以上结果表明,JrCHS4能够促进花青苷的生物合成与积累。

图5 JrCHS4 瞬时转化烟草叶片表型与总花青素含量分析
Fig.5 Analysis of phenotypes and total anthocyanins content in JrCHS4 transiently transformed tobacco leaves

3 讨 论

花青苷是重要的天然抗氧化剂,在清除人体自由基、改善血糖平衡、预防心脑血管疾病等方面有着积极的作用[21];花青苷在红瓤核桃种皮中积累不仅提高了核桃的营养价值,也丰富了种仁的外观品质,市场前景广阔,但其呈色机制目前尚不清楚,限制了核桃的色泽品质改良。因此,探究红瓤核桃种皮着色机制、挖掘关键调控基因,对培育优质红瓤核桃新品种具有重要的理论意义和应用价值。

查尔酮合成酶是花青苷合成通路的第一个限速酶,决定着花青苷合成的种类及含量[22]。笔者课题组前期基于转录组数据,首先进行基因功能注释筛选出了17个注释为“Chalcone synthetase”的基因,后又通过构建核桃CHSs基因表达图谱筛选获得了4个具有显著差异表达的JrCHSs基因JrCHS1JrCHS4,且表达量与花青苷含量呈正相关[9]。笔者以前期获得的4 个与花青苷合成相关的JrCHSs 基因为研究对象,通过qRT-PCR 发现,花后60、120 d 时JrCHS4 在红瓤核桃种皮中的表达量显著高于普通核桃种皮且表达量差异最大,分别约为66.04、11 970.93倍,该结果与MaCHS2基因在红皮香蕉各组织中的表达量高于天宝香蕉各组织[23]PeCHS基因在紫色西番莲果皮中的表达量明显高于黄色西番莲果皮[24]IbCHS1基因在紫肉甘薯中的表达量高于黄肉、白肉甘薯[25]等研究结果一致,表明JrCHS4可能是红瓤核桃种皮花青苷合成的关键基因。

本研究结果表明,红瓤核桃不同时期种皮JrCHSs 的表达量受到了果实发育的影响,在花后60 d和120 d时表达量较高,而在花后90 d时表达量显著降低。在红瓤核桃种皮颜色形成过程中,花后60 d是花青苷积累的关键时期,花青苷大量合成,因此4 个JrCHSs 基因在花后60 d 红瓤核桃种皮中的表达量较高;在花后90 d时,红瓤核桃种皮花青苷合成速度减慢,此时4个JrCHSs基因在红瓤核桃种皮中便保持了较低的表达水平;花后120 d 时,核桃果实在发育成熟时期通常伴随有含水量降低现象,推测可能诱导了红瓤核桃种皮中的花青苷再次大量合成,因此4个JrCHSs基因在红瓤核桃种皮中的表达量又再一次升高。

根据PLACE 数据库,2 种核桃JrCHS4 启动子中均含有ABA相关的ABRE元件、乙烯相关的ERE元件、赤霉素相关的GARE 元件[26-28],以及MYB、bHLH 转录因子的结合位点[29]。根据顺式作用元件分析结果推测,JrCHS4基因可能参与激素信号转导以及逆境胁迫响应等生物学过程,并受到MYB 和bHLH 转录因子的调控。根据前人研究,MYB 和bHLH 是影响花青苷生物合成的关键转录因子,如彭亚丽等[30]阐述了MYB 转录因子在蔬菜花青苷合成中的激活作用与抑制作用;荔枝中与LcMYB1起协同作用的LcbHLH1、LcbHLH3能够调控荔枝花青素生物合成的晚期结构基因,进而调控荔枝中花青素的合成与积累[31];过表达MdMYC2 的转基因苹果愈伤组织中能够积累更多的花青素且显著提升MdCHSMdDFR 等花青素生物合成相关基因的表达水平[32]。而笔者在本研究中发现与GW-JrCHS4启动子相比,RW-JrCHS4启动子缺失了1个MYB结合位点MYB1AT,插入了1个bHLH结合位点MYCCONSENSUSAT,推测bHLH 结合位点MYCCONSENSUSAT 的插入可能会导致bHLH 转录因子对JrCHS4启动子结合作用的差异,进而影响bHLH转录因子对JrCHS4的调控,从而影响红瓤核桃种皮花青苷的积累,同样MYB 结合位点MYB1AT 的缺失也将会影响MYB 转录因子对JrCHS4 的调控,具体影响将会在之后的研究中继续进行深入探索。

前人研究表明,bHLH 是花青苷合成通路结构基因的主要调控因子之一[33],探究JrCHS4 与上游JrbHLHs的调控关系能够为解析红瓤核桃种皮花青苷生物合成分子机制提供数据支撑。通过酵母单杂交试验表明JrbHLHA2 能够特异地结合到JrCHS4的启动子上,通过LUC 试验证明JrbHLHA2 能够提高JrCHS4启动子的启动活性。在蓝莓中,酵母单杂交试验表明,3 个花青素生物合成VcbHLHs(VcAN1、VcbHLH1-1和VcbHLH1-2)可特异性结合VcCHS21启动子的G-box序列(CACGTG)进而调控VcCHS21 的表达[34],说明bHLH 转录因子对CHS 在花青苷合成中的调节作用具有普遍性。

瞬时转化烟草叶片是验证果树花青苷合成相关基因功能的常用方法,在苹果[35]、梨[36]等物种中应用广泛。为了进一步研究JrCHS4 在花青苷合成中的作用,将JrCHS4 的过表达载体瞬时转化烟草叶片,结果表明过表达JrCHS4 显著提高了烟草叶片花青苷含量,与马铃薯StCHS4StCHS5[37]瞬时转化烟草叶片能够提高花青苷含量的结果一致,表明JrCHS4能够促进花青苷的生物合成与积累。

4 结 论

探究了JrbHLHA2 靶向JrCHS4 调控花青苷合成的分子机制。红瓤核桃JrCHS4 在种皮发育过程中持续高表达,且启动子活性高于GW-JrCHS4启动子。JrbHLHA2能够直接结合RW-JrCHS4启动子并促进其上调表达,JrCHS4过表达烟草叶片能够促进花青苷的积累。推测JrbHLHA2 靶向JrCHS4 启动子促进了红瓤核桃花青苷的积累,这对红瓤核桃的改良育种提供了一定的理论依据。

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Functional research on JrbHLHA2 transcription factor targeting chalcone synthase gene JrCHS4 regulating anthocyanin biosynthesis in red walnut

WANG Lei1,2,FAN Lu2#,LI Yaqi2,CHEN Junru2,MENG Haijun2,WU Guoliang2*

(1Xinjiang Production Construction Corps Key Laboratory of Protection and Utilization of Biological Resources in Tarim Basin,Alar 843300,Xinjiang,China;2College of Horticultural Science,Henan Agricultural University,Zhengzhou 450046,Henan,China)

Abstract:【Objective】 Walnut(Juglans regia L.),which ranks first among the four major nut crops,has been widely planted and processed for utilization.Red walnut RW-1 with red leaves,pericarps and seed coats has been researched because of its high contents of anthocyanin.Anthocyanins are important secondary metabolites in plants,which play an important role in avoiding UV damage,attracting insect pollination and resisting low temperature stress.Although the anthocyanin biosynthesis gene has been studied in other plants, the function in walnut is still unclear. Chalcone synthase is the first key enzyme in anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway, which determines the final product of anthocyanin biosynthesis. In this study,the function of JrCHS4 was researched by transient transformation in tobacco leaves.【Methods】 The expression patterns of key chalcone synthase genes related to anthocyanin biosynthesis(JrCHS1-JrCHS4) were detected by qRT-PCR. The promoters of JrCHS4 in two different color types of walnuts were cloned by the Phytozome database.The cis-acting elements were predicted by PLACE databases. The promoters were inserted into pCAMBIA1381-GUS vector, and the recombinant vector was transformed into Agrobacterium strain GV3101 for transient expression. The activity of two promoters was detected by GUS histochemical staining and quantitation GUS protein. The regulatory effect of upstream bHLH transcription factors (JrbHLHA1, JrbHLHA2, JrEGL1a and JrEGL1b) on the JrCHS4 promoter was detected by yeast one-hybrid (Y1H) and luciferase assay (LUC). The over-expression vector of JrCHS4 was transient transformed into tobacco leaves, and the changes of leaf color and anthocyanin content were observed.【Results】 The expression patterns of four CHSs genes related to anthocyanin biosynthesis were detected by qRT-PCR using different development stages of seed coat.The results showed that at 60th and 120th days after flowering,the expression level of JrCHS4 was significantly higher in the red walnut seed coat than in the normal walnut seed coat and the difference in expression level was the largest,which indicated that JrCHS4 may be the key gene in red walnut anthocyanin biosynthesis. To investigate whether the different expression trends of CHS4 gene in the seed coat development of red walnut RW-1 and normal walnut Zhonglin 1 were related to their promoters,the promoters of JrCHS4 were cloned from the two types of walnuts by the Phytozome database, and 98.50% nucleotide identify were shared. From PLACE database, some elements related to hormone response and stress,like ABRE,MYC,ERE,GARE and MYB1AT,were found in RW-JrCHS4 promoter.Compared with the GW-JrCHS4 promoter, the RW-JrCHS4 promoter lacked one MYB binding site MYB1AT and inserted one bHLH binding site MYCCONSENSUSAT. In order to determine the difference in activity of two JrCHS4 promoters,the promoters were cloned into pCAMBIA1381-GUS vector.After they were transformed into Agrobacterium strain GV3101,the positive clones were transient transformed into tobacco leaves. The result of histochemical assay showed that the negative control (only GUS without the promoter) showed almost no expression, the positive control (35S-GUS) showed a strong expression, and the GUS activity under RW-JrCHS4 was higher than that of GW-JrCHS4. The same results were also gotten by quantitation of GUS protein.The results from both assays showed that compared with the GW-JrCHS4 promoter, the promoter of RW-JrCHS4 showed high activity, which suggested that the different expression patterns of JrCHS4 may be caused by their promoter activities.To screen out the bHLH transcription factors,which were in the upstream of JrCHS4,four bHLHs related to anthocyanin biosynthesis(JrbHLHA1,JrbHLHA2,JrEGL1a and JrEGL1b)were selected out.After cloned into pGADT7 vector, four bHLHs were co-transformed into yeast stain Y1HGold with RWJrCHS4pro-pAbAi. The optimal AbA concentration to inhibit the expression of JrCHS4 promoter was 150 ng·mL- 1. After they grew on the selected medium, only JrbHLHA2-pGADT7+RW-JrCHS4propAbAi stain ensured the normal growth, while none of the other combinations could grow, which indicated that JrbHLHA2 could bind to the promoter of JrCHS4. Moreover, the results of LUC assays showed that the activity of RW-JrCHS4 promoter co-transformed with JrbHLHA2 was almost three times more than co-transformed with empty vector.So the results indicated that JrbHLHA2 and JrCHS4 may be the key genes of anthocyanin biosynthesis in red walnut,and JrbHLHA2 was bound the promoter of JrCHS4 to promote the biosynthesis and accumulation of anthocyanin.In order to verity the function of JrCHS4 in anthocyanin biosynthesis,the over-expression vector of JrCHS4 was transformed into tobacco leaves.After they were injected for seven days, the accumulated anthocyanin content of injected JrCHS4 tobacco leaves was higher than the empty vector injected. The results indicated that JrCHS4 promoted the accumulation of anthocyanin.【Conclusion】 The JrbHLHA2 transcription factor targeting chalcone synthase gene JrCHS4 is the key factor to regulate the biosynthesis of anthocyanin in red walnut RW-1,which provided important theoretical significance and application value for seed coat color improvement as well as breeding new varieties of red walnut.

Key words:Red walnut;Anthocyanin;Chalcone synthase;Transcriptional regulation

中图分类号:S664.1

文献标志码:A

文章编号:1009-9980(2024)10-2002-12

DOI:10.13925/j.cnki.gsxb.20240357

收稿日期:2024-07-08

接受日期:2024-08-12

基金项目:新疆生产建设兵团塔里木盆地生物资源保护利用重点实验室开放课题(BRYB2202)

作者简介:王磊,男,副教授,博士,主要从事核桃育种与分子生物技术研究工作。E-mail:wanglei2017@henau.edu.cn。#为共同第一作者。樊璐,女,在读硕士研究生,研究方向为红瓤核桃花青苷代谢分子机制。E-mail:fanlu0125@163.com

*通信作者 Author for correspondence.E-mail:walnut-wu@126.com