Журнал гликобиологии
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Transcriptomic and Proteomic Analyses of Gene Expression Differences and Functional Verification of the Anthocyanidins Synthesis Pathway in Rhododendron

Qinghao Wang*, Baoxin Jiang, Yonghong Jia, Huixia Shou, Zhihui Chen, Yuhao Cheng, Yueyan Wu

Rhododendron (Rhododendron simsii Planch) is one of the most diverse genera of woody plants in the world. It is rich in germplasm resources, but the molecular regulation of Rhododendron color formation is poorly understood. In this study, two Belgian Rhododendron varieties with red and white flowers were subjected to RNA-sequencing and Protein sequencing analyses. Integrative analysis of transcriptome and proteome data was used to identify anthocyanidins synthesis genes and proteins specifically expressed in flowers of different colours. The key differences between red and white flowers across flower development stages were analysed using the KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) database, while the expression levels of differentially expressed genes in the anthocyanidins/flavonoid biosynthesis pathways were compared using RNA-seq and qRT-PCR (Real-Time Quantitative Reverse Transcription PCR) data. The key pathways affecting flower colour in Rhododendron were identified by correlation analysis of the transcriptome data. We identified 6 anthocyanidins biosynthesis-related genes. The differences in the gene sequences of RsCHS, RsCHI, RsF3H, RsFLS, RsDFR, and RsANS and gene expression might be related to the accumulation of anthocyanidins. RsDFR gene overexpression caused Arabidopsis leaves to turn red. These results provide valuable information on the molecular mechanism underlying Rhododendron flower colour formation.