Transcriptome Dynamics Reveal the Potential Roles of Long Non-Coding RNAs in Regulating Flower Color of Safflowers...

Area of Science:

• Plant Biology
• Molecular Genetics
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is a valuable medicinal plant known for its natural pigments.
• Flower color is crucial for safflower's ornamental and commercial value.
• The role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in safflower flower coloration is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and characterize lncRNAs involved in safflower flower coloration.
• To investigate the potential regulatory mechanisms of lncRNAs in flavonoid biosynthesis pathways.
• To explore the association between lncRNAs and genes controlling flower color variation.

Main Methods:

• Strand-specific RNA sequencing of three safflower varieties with different flower colors.
• Identification and analysis of lncRNAs, including natural antisense transcripts (NATs).
• Expression analysis, co-expression analysis, and functional assays of candidate genes and lncRNAs.

Main Results:

• A total of 4851 lncRNAs were identified, including 940 NAT pairs.
• lncRNA MSTRG.28365 was found to be a NAT with CtCHS.7, a gene potentially involved in flavonoid biosynthesis.
• Expression patterns suggested a regulatory relationship between MSTRG.28365 and CtCHS.7, with CtCHS.7 highly expressed in red-flowered safflower.
• Co-expression analysis linked CtCHS.7 to genes involved in flavonoid modification (e.g., UDP-glycosyltransferases, cytochrome P450 enzymes).
• Functional assays indicated that recombinant CtCHS.7 protein could catalyze the production of flavonoid-related metabolites.

Conclusions:

• lncRNAs likely play a role in safflower flower color variation and flavonoid biosynthesis.
• MSTRG.28365 is a candidate regulatory element for flower coloration mechanisms in safflower.
• This study provides a foundation for future research into the genetic regulation of safflower flower color.