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Updated: Dec 21, 2025

Annotation of Plant Gene Function via Combined Genomics, Metabolomics and Informatics
Published on: June 17, 2012
The R2R3-MYB transcription factor GhMYB1a regulates flavonol and anthocyanin accumulation in Gerbera hybrida
Chunmei Zhong1, Yi Tang2, Bin Pang2
11College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture; Key Laboratory of Energy Plants Resource and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, P.R. China, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642 China.
Abstract:
Anthocyanins and flavonols have vital roles in flower coloration, plant development, and defense. Because anthocyanins and flavonols share the same subcellular localization and common biosynthetic substrates, these pathways may compete for substrates. However, the mechanism regulating this potential competition remains unclear. Here, we identified GhMYB1a, an R2R3-MYB transcription factor involved in the regulation of anthocyanin and flavonol accumulation in gerbera (Gerberahybrida). GhMYB1a shares high sequence similarity with that of other characterized regulators of flavonol biosynthesis. In addition, GhMYB1a is also phylogenetically grouped with these proteins. The overexpression of GhMYB1a in gerbera and tobacco (Nicotianatabacum) resulted in decreased anthocyanin accumulation and increased accumulation of flavonols by upregulating the structural genes involved in flavonol biosynthesis. We further found that GhMYB1a functions as a homodimer instead of interacting with basic helix-loop-helix cofactors. These results suggest that GhMYB1a is involved in regulating the anthocyanin and flavonol metabolic pathways through precise regulation of gene expression. The functional characterization of GhMYB1a provides insight into the biosynthesis and regulation of flavonols and anthocyanins.
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