Articles
Epigenetic regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis in blood oranges: first results on bisulphite sequencing
Article number
1458_49
Pages
371 – 378
Language
English
Abstract
Epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation, influence plant responses to the environment.
Studies on fruit ripening in various species, including both climacteric and non-climacteric fleshy fruits, indicate diverse DNA methylation dynamics.
Hence, tomato fruit ripening involves a decrease in DNA methylation, whereas a ripening-associated DNA hypermethylation was observed in the blonde ‘Newhall’ sweet orange cultivar.
The effect of cold temperature upon the DNA methylation status of the promoter regions of two genes involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis (DFR and Ruby) has been investigated in blood orange cultivars, indicating that DNA methylation decreases in those fruit areas in which the amount of anthocyanin is higher.
The purpose of this work is to deeply understand the epigenetic mechanism underlying the colour variegation occurring inside the blood oranges at the beginning and during the cold induction of anthocyanin biosynthesis.
Therefore, the amount of anthocyanins and the DNA methylation status by bisulphite sequencing have been monitored in either high-pigmented (HP) or not/low-pigmented (NP) segments of the same fruit at time 0 (T0) and after the storage at 4°C for a total experimental period of 15 days (T15). The results indicate that anthocyanin content was higher in the HP areas and increased during cold storage.
Differential methylation analysis reveals low methylation levels both at T0 and T15 in the HP areas of the fruits compared to the NP areas (T0HP vs.
T0NP and T15HP vs.
T15NP comparisons). Moreover, anthocyanin levels are elevated in fruit areas where the mCHH context is hypomethylated.
Studies on fruit ripening in various species, including both climacteric and non-climacteric fleshy fruits, indicate diverse DNA methylation dynamics.
Hence, tomato fruit ripening involves a decrease in DNA methylation, whereas a ripening-associated DNA hypermethylation was observed in the blonde ‘Newhall’ sweet orange cultivar.
The effect of cold temperature upon the DNA methylation status of the promoter regions of two genes involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis (DFR and Ruby) has been investigated in blood orange cultivars, indicating that DNA methylation decreases in those fruit areas in which the amount of anthocyanin is higher.
The purpose of this work is to deeply understand the epigenetic mechanism underlying the colour variegation occurring inside the blood oranges at the beginning and during the cold induction of anthocyanin biosynthesis.
Therefore, the amount of anthocyanins and the DNA methylation status by bisulphite sequencing have been monitored in either high-pigmented (HP) or not/low-pigmented (NP) segments of the same fruit at time 0 (T0) and after the storage at 4°C for a total experimental period of 15 days (T15). The results indicate that anthocyanin content was higher in the HP areas and increased during cold storage.
Differential methylation analysis reveals low methylation levels both at T0 and T15 in the HP areas of the fruits compared to the NP areas (T0HP vs.
T0NP and T15HP vs.
T15NP comparisons). Moreover, anthocyanin levels are elevated in fruit areas where the mCHH context is hypomethylated.
Authors
E. Scialò, A. Sicilia, C.S. Taranto, R. Russo, A.R. Lo Piero
Keywords
Citrus sinensis, WGBS, DNA methylation, anthocyanin, sweet orange, cold
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