CsWRKY6-2/CsWRKY12 module regulates gallated catechin biosynthesis in tea plants
Yongheng Zhang1, Jie Wang1, Yedie Wu1
1Key laboratory of Biology, Genetics and Breeding of Special Economic Animals and Plants, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, State Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Germplasm Innovation and Resource Utilization, National Center for Tea Plant Improvement, Tea Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, 310008, China.
The Plant Journal : for Cell and Molecular Biology
|June 3, 2026
Summary
The CsWRKY6-2 transcription factor negatively regulates galloylated catechins like EGCG and ECG in tea plants. This WRKY module provides insights into breeding tea for enhanced health benefits.
Area of Science:
- Plant Molecular Biology
- Plant Biochemistry
- Agricultural Science
Background:
- Tea plants (Camellia sinensis) contain beneficial galloylated catechins, primarily epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and epicatechin gallate (ECG).
- WRKY transcription factors are known regulators of plant metabolite biosynthesis, but their specific roles in tea catechin accumulation are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the mechanism by which WRKY transcription factors regulate the biosynthesis of EGCG and ECG in tea plants.
- To identify specific WRKY factors and their target genes involved in galloylated catechin accumulation.
Main Methods:
- Correlation analysis of CsWRKY6-2 expression with EGCG and ECG levels across different tea cultivars and leaf positions.
- Gene silencing and overexpression experiments to assess the impact of CsWRKY6-2 on catechin content.
- Analysis of gene expression for key biosynthetic genes (CsSCPL4, CsSCPL5) and their activator (CsWRKY12).
- Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays to determine CsWRKY6-2 binding to target gene promoters.
- Protein-protein interaction studies between CsWRKY6-2 and CsWRKY12.
Main Results:
- CsWRKY6-2 expression was negatively correlated with EGCG and ECG levels.
- Silencing CsWRKY6-2 increased catechin content, while overexpression decreased it.
- CsWRKY6-2 directly inhibited the expression of CsSCPL4, CsSCPL5, and CsWRKY12 by binding to their promoters.
- CsWRKY6-2 interacted with CsWRKY12, modulating the regulation of CsSCPL4 and CsSCPL5.
- The CsWRKY6-2/CsWRKY12 module exhibited differential regulatory effects across leaf positions and cultivars, jointly controlling galloylated catechin accumulation.
Conclusions:
- A precise mechanism involving the CsWRKY6-2/CsWRKY12 module regulating galloylated catechin accumulation in tea plants was identified.
- This regulatory module provides novel insights for breeding tea cultivars with improved catechin content and associated health benefits.
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