The Ethylene Response Factor ERF5 Regulates Anthocyanin Biosynthesis in ‘Zijin’ Mulberry Fruits by Interacting with <i>MYBA</i> and <i>F3H</i> Genes
Ethylene promotes ripening in fruits as well as the biosynthesis of anthocyanins in plants. However, the question of which ethylene response factors (ERFs) interact with the genes along the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway is yet to be answered. Herein, we conduct an integrated analysis of transcrip...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-07-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/14/7615 |
| Summary: | Ethylene promotes ripening in fruits as well as the biosynthesis of anthocyanins in plants. However, the question of which ethylene response factors (ERFs) interact with the genes along the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway is yet to be answered. Herein, we conduct an integrated analysis of transcriptomes and metabolome on fruits of two mulberry genotypes (‘Zijin’, ZJ, and ‘Dashi’, DS, with high and low anthocyanin abundance, respectively) at different post-flowering stages. In total, 1035 upregulated genes were identified in ZJ and DS, including <i>MYBA</i> in the MBW complex and anthocyanin related genes such as <i>F3H</i>. A KEGG analysis suggested that flavonoid biosynthesis and plant hormone signaling transduction pathways were significantly enriched in the upregulated gene list. In particular, among 103 <i>ERF</i> genes, the expression of <i>ERF5</i> showed the most positive correlation with the anthocyanin change pattern across both genotypes and in the post-flowering stages, with a Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC) of 0.93. Electrophoresis mobility shift assay (EMSA) and luciferase assay suggested that ERF5 binds to the promoter regions of MYBA and F3H and transcriptionally activates their gene expression. We elucidated a potential mechanism by which ethylene enhances anthocyanin accumulation in mulberry fruits and highlighted the importance of the <i>ERF5</i> gene in controlling the anthocyanin content in mulberry species. This knowledge could be used for engineering purposes in future mulberry breeding programs. |
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| ISSN: | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |