• Molecules and Cells
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.405-409
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• 2007

A putative type-I chalcone isomerase (CHI) cDNA clone EuNOD-CHI was previously isolated from the root nodule of Elaeagnus umbellata [Kim et al. (2003)]. To see if it encodes a functional CHI, we ectopically overexpressed it in the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) transparent testa 5 (tt5) mutant, which is defective in naringenin production and has yellow seeds due to proanthocyanidin deficiency. Ectopic overexpression of EuNOD-CHI resulted in recovery of normal seed coat color. Naringenin produced by CHI from naringenin chalcone was detected in the transgenic lines like in the wild-type, whereas it was absent from the tt5 mutant. We conclude that EuNOD-CHI encodes a functional type-I CHI. In situ hybridization revealed that EuNOD-CHI expression is localized to the infected cells of the fixation zone in root nodules.

• Proceedings of the Zoological Society Korea Conference
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• 1995.10b
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• pp.308.1-308
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• 1995

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.247-254
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• 2019

Flavonoids are widely distributed secondary metabolites in plants that have a variety biological functions, as well as beneficial biological and pharmacological activities. In barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), for example, high levels of saponarin accumulate during primary leaf development. However, the effect of saponarin biosynthetic pathway genes on the accumulation of saponarin in barley is poorly understood. Accordingly, the aim of the present study was to examine the saponarin contents and expression levels of saponarin biosynthetic pathway genes [chalcone synthase (CHS), chalcone isomerase (CHI), and UDP-Glc:isovitexin 7-O-glucosyltransferase (OGT)] during early seedling developmental and under several abiotic stress conditions. Interestingly, the upregulation of HvCHS, HvCHI, and HvOGT during early development was associated with saponarin accumulation during later stages. In addition, exposure to abiotic stress conditions (e.g., light/dark transition, drought, and low or high temperature) significantly affected the expression of HvCHS and HvCHI but failed to affect either HvOGT expression or saponarin accumulation. These findings suggested that the expression of HvOGT, which encodes an enzyme that catalyzes the final step of saponarin biosynthesis, is required for saponarin accumulation. Taken together, the results of the present study provide a basis for metabolic engineering in barley plants, especially in regards to enhancing the contents of useful secondary metabolites, such as saponarin.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.12-17
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• 2021

Saponarin found in young barley sprouts has a variety of beneficial biological and pharmacological properties, including antioxidant, hypoglycemic, antimicrobial, and hepatoprotective activities. Our previous work demonstrated that saponarin content was correlated with the expression levels of three biosynthetic pathway genes [chalcone synthase (HvCHS1), chalcone isomerase (HvCHI), and UDP-Glc:isovitexin 7-O-glucosyltransferase (HvOGT1)] in young barley seedlings under various abiotic stress conditions. In this study, we investigated the saponarin content and expression levels of three saponarin biosynthetic pathway genes in hulled and hulless domestic barley cultivars. In the early developmental stages, some hulled barley cultivars (Kunalbori1 and Heukdahyang) had much higher saponarin contents than did the hulless barley cultivars. An RNA expression analysis showed that in most barley cultivars, decreased saponarin content correlated with reduced expression of HvCHS1 and HvCHI, but not HvOGT1. Heat map analysis revealed both specific increases in HvCHS1 expression in certain hulled and hulless barley cultivars, as well as general changes that occurred during the different developmental stages of each barley cultivar. In summary, our results provide a molecular genetic basis for the metabolic engineering of barley plants to enhance their saponarin content.

• 한국약용작물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2011.04a
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• pp.466-467
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• 2011

• 한국약용작물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2010.10a
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• pp.382-383
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• 2010

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.467-473
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• 2011

Flavonoid are large group of the polyphenolic compounds which are distinguished by an aromatic or phenolic ring structure and the phenolic compounds are induced by microbial infection, ultraviolet radiation, temperature and chemical stress. They are known for their antioxidant activity, anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and anti-cancer activities. In this study, changes in flavonoid content were investigated using heterologous chalcone isomerase (CHI) expression system. Also, phenolic compounds level was measured to examine the relation between flavonoids and phenols contents. Explants of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) were transformed with Agrobacterium tumefaciens LBA 4404 strain containing pFLH-CHI (derived from pPZP2Ha3) vector constructed with CHI gene from Brassica rapa. The putative transgenic plants were confirmed by genomic DNA PCR analysis. Also the transcription levels of the gene were analyzed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR with gene specific primers. The total flavonoid contents were increased at $T_0$ and $T_1$ generations over 1.4 and 4.0 fold, respectively. Total phenol contents also increased at $T_1$ generation. These results indicate that CHI gene plays an important role to regulate the accumulation of flavonoids and its component changes.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.626-634
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• 2012

There are variations among grapevine genotypes in the levels of tolerance to cold, and cold-hardiness of grapevine has been affected by the change of short-term environment during over-wintering. In this study, the responses of vines to cold in open field and rain-shelter system were investigated to obtain useful information in increasing the tolerance to cold in grape cultivation. Total carbohydrate content of bearing mother branches was higher in the rain-shelter system than in the open field, and lower in the branches of 'Muscat Bailey A' than in 'Campbell Early' and 'Kyoho'. Bud-burst and shoot growth were better in the rain-shelter system than in open field, whereas there is no significant difference among the treatments of net beside vines. There was also low incidence of gray mold in rain shelter system. Stilbene compounds such as t-piceid, resveratrol, piceatannol, c-piceid were accumulated in the cold-treated shoot from vine cuts harvested in rain shelter system. Genes of chalcone isomerase, manganese superoxide dismutase, proline rich protein 2, and temperature induced lipocalin were highly expressed in the cold-treated shoot from vine cuts harvested in rain shelter system. While there was not change of air temperature, but high reduction of wind speed in the rain shelter system compared to open field, and increase in the reduction of wind speed by net treatment. The damage of grapevines by cold in the extreme low temperature could be reduced by keeping them in the rain shelter system with net during winter season.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.415-422
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• 2009

This study aimed to develop carnation cultivars with new coloring system. We used four genes of Petunia hybrida - chalcone synthase (CHS), flavanone 3-hydroxylase (FHT), dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR), and anthocyanidin synthase (ANS) - as probes, in order to isolate four genes from carnations (Dianthus Caryophyllus). The isolated genes were used as probes in order to select mutants out of collected carnations, using Northern blot analysis. The Northern blot analysis revealed 10 DFR mutants - Gumbyul, Eunbyul, Ballatyne, Crystal, Eugenia, Koreno, Imp. White Sim, West Crystal, White Alpine, and White Charotte. Six among the selected 10 cultivarswere excluded from the target cultivars, because Eugenia, Imp. White Sim, and White Alpine were proved to be double mutants of DFR and ANS, Koreno was considered to be a double mutant of DFR and CHS, and Gumbyul and Ballatyne were proved to be double mutants of DFR and CHI (Chalcone isomerase). Consequently, we selected five DFR mutants, including Virginie, which was already selected as a DFR mutant. Finally, we measured DFR activities in order to confirm the selection, and the results showed that all of the five cultivars - Eunbyul, Crystal, West Crystal, White Charotte, and Virginie - had got no DFR activity.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.234-240
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• 2008

Anthocyanin synthesis in strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa cv Maehyang) begins approximately 26 days postflowering and continued throughout fruit ripening. A set of cDNA clones encoding the anthocyanin biosynthetic enzymes were isolated from strawberry. A pair of primers were designed for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) through the comparison of the nucleotide sequences of homologous genes from diverse plants. Reverse transcriptase-PCRs were performed using cDNA synthesized from ripe fruit total RNA and the primers corresponding to each gene. Eight genes of the anthocyanin pathway were cloned and confirmed by sequencing to code for phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), 4-cummarate CoA ligase (4CL), chalcone synthase (CHS), chalcone isomerase (CHI), flavanone-3-hydroxylase (F3H), dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR), anthocyanidine synthase (ANS), UDP-glucose:flavonoid-3-O-glucosyl-transferase (UFGT). Northern analyses showed that the corresponding genes were differentially expressed during the fruit development process. All genes except PAL were predominantly expressed in fruit. Expression of PAL, DFR and ANS was detected 10 days postflowering at the early stage of fruit development, declined for a while and sharply increased 22 days postflowering then showed a peak 34 days postflowering. The other genes, however, were not expressed up to 22 or 30 days postflowering when the initial fruit ripening events occur at the time of initiation of anthocyanin accumulation. The onset of anthocyanin synthesis in ripening strawberry coincides with a coordinated induction of the anthocyanin pathway genes, suggesting the involvement of regulatory genes. We propose that at least two different regulatory mechanisms playa role in the biosynthesis of anthocyanin during color development of strawberry.