Interaction of PsMYB4 with PsEGL3 inhibits anthocyanin biosynthesis in tree peony yellow flowers
Tree peony is a traditional woody flower originating from China and possesses high ornamental value. The yellow cultivar is even more precious, known as the highest grade. However, the molecular mechanism underlying tree peony yellow flower formation is still unclear. Our present work identified two...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Plant Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1595014/full |
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| author | Xiaoning Luo Sijie Huang Fangjun Jiang Qianqian Shi Yafeng Wen Mengchen Li Minhuan Zhang Yanlong Zhang |
| author_facet | Xiaoning Luo Sijie Huang Fangjun Jiang Qianqian Shi Yafeng Wen Mengchen Li Minhuan Zhang Yanlong Zhang |
| author_sort | Xiaoning Luo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Tree peony is a traditional woody flower originating from China and possesses high ornamental value. The yellow cultivar is even more precious, known as the highest grade. However, the molecular mechanism underlying tree peony yellow flower formation is still unclear. Our present work identified two transcription factors (TFs), PsMYB4 and PsEGL3, which were highly expressed in yellow tree peony cultivar. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that PsMYB4 belonged to the R2R3-MYB repressor, while PsEGL3 was clustered into subgroup IIIf of bHLH family. Overexpression of PsMYB4 and PsEGL3 respectively in tobacco inhibited anthocyanin synthesis, with PsMYB4 overexpressing lines being more pronounced and the expression levels of structural genes NtC4H, NtCHS, NtCHI, and NtDFR were significantly downregulated, while the expression levels of structural genes in PsEGL3 transgenic lines showed no significant pattern. On the contrary, the expression of PsCHS, PsCHI, PsF3H and PsDFR increased in either PsMYB4 or PsEGL3 silencing tree peony petals, in which endogenous PsMYB4 and PsEGL3 genes were also inhibited to a certain extent. Yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) and bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) assays further confirmed PsMYB4 could interact with PsEGL3. Moreover, in dual-luciferase (LUC) assay, PsMYB4 and PsEGL3 synergistically suppressed the promoter activity of PsCHS, PsCHI, and PsDFR, thus inhibiting anthocyanin biosynthesis branch and leading to a metabolic flow towards the flavonol synthesis branch. These findings provide a new perspective for revealing the molecular mechanism of the yellow flower formation in tree peony. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e24df89f6a8f4e75ac4192ac72e12a3f |
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| issn | 1664-462X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Plant Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-e24df89f6a8f4e75ac4192ac72e12a3f2025-08-20T02:36:53ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2025-06-011610.3389/fpls.2025.15950141595014Interaction of PsMYB4 with PsEGL3 inhibits anthocyanin biosynthesis in tree peony yellow flowersXiaoning Luo0Sijie Huang1Fangjun Jiang2Qianqian Shi3Yafeng Wen4Mengchen Li5Minhuan Zhang6Yanlong Zhang7College of Landscape Architecture, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Hunan, Changsha, ChinaCollege of Landscape Architecture, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Hunan, Changsha, ChinaCollege of Landscape Architecture, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Hunan, Changsha, ChinaCollege of Landscape Architecture and Art, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi, Xianyang, ChinaCollege of Landscape Architecture, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Hunan, Changsha, ChinaCollege of Landscape Architecture and Art, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi, Xianyang, ChinaCollege of Landscape Architecture, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Hunan, Changsha, ChinaCollege of Landscape Architecture and Art, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi, Xianyang, ChinaTree peony is a traditional woody flower originating from China and possesses high ornamental value. The yellow cultivar is even more precious, known as the highest grade. However, the molecular mechanism underlying tree peony yellow flower formation is still unclear. Our present work identified two transcription factors (TFs), PsMYB4 and PsEGL3, which were highly expressed in yellow tree peony cultivar. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that PsMYB4 belonged to the R2R3-MYB repressor, while PsEGL3 was clustered into subgroup IIIf of bHLH family. Overexpression of PsMYB4 and PsEGL3 respectively in tobacco inhibited anthocyanin synthesis, with PsMYB4 overexpressing lines being more pronounced and the expression levels of structural genes NtC4H, NtCHS, NtCHI, and NtDFR were significantly downregulated, while the expression levels of structural genes in PsEGL3 transgenic lines showed no significant pattern. On the contrary, the expression of PsCHS, PsCHI, PsF3H and PsDFR increased in either PsMYB4 or PsEGL3 silencing tree peony petals, in which endogenous PsMYB4 and PsEGL3 genes were also inhibited to a certain extent. Yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) and bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) assays further confirmed PsMYB4 could interact with PsEGL3. Moreover, in dual-luciferase (LUC) assay, PsMYB4 and PsEGL3 synergistically suppressed the promoter activity of PsCHS, PsCHI, and PsDFR, thus inhibiting anthocyanin biosynthesis branch and leading to a metabolic flow towards the flavonol synthesis branch. These findings provide a new perspective for revealing the molecular mechanism of the yellow flower formation in tree peony.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1595014/fulltree peonyyellow floweranthocyanin biosynthesisflavonoid pathwayPsMYB4PsEGL3 |
| spellingShingle | Xiaoning Luo Sijie Huang Fangjun Jiang Qianqian Shi Yafeng Wen Mengchen Li Minhuan Zhang Yanlong Zhang Interaction of PsMYB4 with PsEGL3 inhibits anthocyanin biosynthesis in tree peony yellow flowers Frontiers in Plant Science tree peony yellow flower anthocyanin biosynthesis flavonoid pathway PsMYB4 PsEGL3 |
| title | Interaction of PsMYB4 with PsEGL3 inhibits anthocyanin biosynthesis in tree peony yellow flowers |
| title_full | Interaction of PsMYB4 with PsEGL3 inhibits anthocyanin biosynthesis in tree peony yellow flowers |
| title_fullStr | Interaction of PsMYB4 with PsEGL3 inhibits anthocyanin biosynthesis in tree peony yellow flowers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Interaction of PsMYB4 with PsEGL3 inhibits anthocyanin biosynthesis in tree peony yellow flowers |
| title_short | Interaction of PsMYB4 with PsEGL3 inhibits anthocyanin biosynthesis in tree peony yellow flowers |
| title_sort | interaction of psmyb4 with psegl3 inhibits anthocyanin biosynthesis in tree peony yellow flowers |
| topic | tree peony yellow flower anthocyanin biosynthesis flavonoid pathway PsMYB4 PsEGL3 |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1595014/full |
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