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Biosynthesis of a Flavonol from a Flavanone by Establishing a One-pot Bienzymatic Cascade
Published on: August 14, 2019
Arabidopsis thaliana expresses a second functional flavonol synthase
Anja Preuss1, Ralf Stracke, Bernd Weisshaar
1Philipps-Universität Marburg, Institut für Pharmazeutische Biologie, Marburg/Lahn, Germany.
FEBS Letters
|May 13, 2009
Summary
Arabidopsis thaliana produces flavonols via flavonol synthase (FLS) enzymes. Researchers identified FLS3 as a second active FLS, crucial for flavonol synthesis in plants.
Area of Science:
- Plant biochemistry
- Molecular biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Arabidopsis thaliana synthesizes flavonoid pigments, including flavonols, from dihydroflavonol precursors.
- A previously identified flavonol synthase 1 (FLS1) was thought to be the sole enzyme responsible for flavonol production.
- However, Arabidopsis fls1 mutants accumulate significant flavonol levels, indicating the presence of other functional flavonol synthases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the enzymatic activities of other putative flavonol synthase (FLS) and leucoanthocyanidin dioxygenase (LDOX) proteins in Arabidopsis thaliana.
- To identify the specific enzyme responsible for residual flavonol accumulation in Arabidopsis fls1 mutants.
Main Methods:
- Recombinant expression and biochemical characterization of FLS and LDOX proteins from Arabidopsis thaliana.
- Analysis of flavonol accumulation in Arabidopsis thaliana mutants, including ldox/fls1-2 double mutants.
Main Results:
- Biochemical assays identified FLS3 as a second active flavonol synthase enzyme in Arabidopsis thaliana.
- The ldox/fls1-2 double mutant exhibited reduced flavonol accumulation, implicating FLS3 in this pathway.
- Data suggest that leucoanthocyanidin dioxygenase (LDOX) can catalyze in planta flavonol formation.
Conclusions:
- FLS3 is identified as a second functional flavonol synthase in Arabidopsis thaliana, contributing to flavonol biosynthesis.
- Leucoanthocyanidin dioxygenase (LDOX) plays a role in the in planta formation of flavonols, particularly in the absence of FLS1.
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