Characterization of four polymorphic genes controlling red leaf colour in lettuce that have undergone disruptive selection since domestication.

ABSTRACT: Anthocyanins protect plants from biotic and abiotic stressors and provide great health benefits to consumers. In this study, we cloned four genes (Red Lettuce Leaves 1 to 4: RLL1 to RLL4) that contribute to colour variations in lettuce. The RLL1 gene encodes a bHLH transcription factor, and a 5-bp deletion in some cultivars abolishes its function to activate the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway. The RLL2 gene encodes an R2R3-MYB transcription factor, which was derived from a duplication followed by mutations in its promoter region. The RLL3 gene encodes an R2-MYB transcription factor, which down-regulates anthocyanin biosynthesis through competing with RLL2 for interaction with RLL1; a mis-sense mutation compromises the capacity of RLL3 to bind RLL1. The RLL4 gene encodes a WD-40 transcrip

SUBMITTER: Su W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6953203 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature