Verification of the copigmentation effect in the blue color flower of gentian using genome editing

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K18654
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Horticultural science
• Research Institution: Iwate Biotechnology Research Center
• Principal Investigator: Tasaki Keisuke 公益財団法人岩手生物工学研究センター, 園芸資源研究部, 研究員 (80733419)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: アントシアニン / ゲノム編集 / コピグメント / リンドウ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Deep blue color of gentian flower is derived from polyacylated anthocyanin, gentiodelphin. To clarify the blue color development mechanism in gentian plants in vivo, we developed mutant lines of anthocyanin modification genes encoding glycosyltransferase and acyltransferase by genome editing using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. To evaluate the flower color phenotype of mutants, abaxial surface of raw-petal was measured directly by spectrophotometry. Then, anthocyanin composition of petal extracts was analyzed by HPLC. In this study, we suggested that the presence of caffeoyl moieties of gentiodelphin 5- and 3'-position or at least 3'-position is important for intramolecular copigmentation effect contributing deep and vivid blue gentian flower color. Thus, the analysis of the raw-petals of mutants successfully provided practical information about the blue color development mechanism of the gentian flower.

Free Research Field

農学