Overexpression of a Tonoplast Malate Transporter Gene Leads to Enhanced Anthocyanin Biosynthesis in Apple.

ABSTRACT: Anthocyanins, a group of secondary metabolites synthesised in the phenylpropanoid pathway, largely determine the peel colour of fleshy fruits, but it is not known if their synthesis is linked to vacuolar malate accumulation that underlies fruit acidity. Here, we show that when the coding sequence of Ma1 (cMa1), encoding a tonoplast malate transporter for controlling apple fruit acidity, is overexpressed in 'Royal Gala' apple, anthocyanin biosynthesis in the fruit peel is enhanced, corresponding to the downregulation of the expression of MdMYB73, a transcriptional activator for Ma1. RNAi suppression of MdMYB73 expression increases anthocyanin biosynthesis whereas its transient overexpression decreases anthocyanin biosynthesis in apple fruit peel. MdMYB73 binds to all 7 MYB-sites in the prom

SUBMITTER: Zhang M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12906801 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature