An Yu, Li Na, Zhang Ruiling, Wang Shu, Wang June
Shanxi Key Laboratory of Germplasm Resources Innovation and Utilization of Vegetable and Flower, College of Horticulture, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong, 030801, China.
BMC Plant Biol. 2025 Jul 2;25(1):830. doi: 10.1186/s12870-025-06743-z.
Dihydroflavonol-4 reductase (DFR) is a key enzyme in plant anthocyanin synthesis and can affect the synthesis of anthocyanin. In order to explore the role of DFR in anthocyanin synthesis of capsicum, the sequence of the DFR gene family was downloaded from the Arabidopsis genome database. The study showed the presence of nine members of the DFR gene family in pepper, which are primarily localized in the cytoplasm and chloroplasts. The majority of these proteins exhibit hydrophilic characteristics, with their secondary structure predominantly consisting of α-helices and random coils. Furthermore, these genes can be categorized into four distinct subfamilies, with the gene structure and conserved motifs of CaDFR members within the same subfamily providing robust support for this classification. The promoter regions of CaDFRs are enriched with numerous light-responsive elements, phytohormone-responsive elements, stress-responsive elements, and elements associated with plant growth and development, in addition to binding sites for 35 different transcription factors. According to the results of qRT-PCR analysis, the expression level of CaDFR5 was consistent with the change of anthocyanin content, and the full length of the CaDFR5 gene was further cloned. This study provides an important reference for improving fruit colour and lays a foundation for further exploring the function of the DFR gene family.
二氢黄酮醇 - 4 - 还原酶（DFR）是植物花青素合成中的关键酶，可影响花青素的合成。为探究DFR在辣椒花青素合成中的作用，从拟南芥基因组数据库下载了DFR基因家族序列。研究表明辣椒中存在DFR基因家族的九个成员，它们主要定位于细胞质和叶绿体中。这些蛋白质大多具有亲水性特征，其二级结构主要由α - 螺旋和无规卷曲组成。此外，这些基因可分为四个不同的亚家族，同一亚家族内CaDFR成员的基因结构和保守基序为这一分类提供了有力支持。CaDFRs的启动子区域除了富含35种不同转录因子的结合位点外，还富含大量光响应元件、植物激素响应元件、胁迫响应元件以及与植物生长发育相关的元件。根据qRT - PCR分析结果，CaDFR5的表达水平与花青素含量变化一致，并进一步克隆了CaDFR5基因的全长。本研究为改善果实颜色提供了重要参考，为进一步探究DFR基因家族的功能奠定了基础。
