The Analysis of Partial Sequences of the Flavonone 3 Hydroxylase Gene in Lupinus mutabilis Reveals Differential Expression of Two Paralogues Potentially Related to Seed Coat Colour
Flavonone 3 hydroxylases (EC 1.14.11.9) are key enzymes in the synthesis of anthocyanins
and other flavonoids. Such compounds are involved in seed coat colour and stem pigmentation.
Lupinus mutabilis (tarwi) is a legume crop domesticated in the Andean region, valued for the high
protein and oil content of its seeds. Tarwi accessions are being selected for cultivation in Europe
under defined breeding criteria. Seed coat colour patterns are relevant breeding traits in tarwi, and
these are conditioned by anthocyanin content. We identified and isolated part of the tarwi flavonone
3-hydroxylase gene (LmF3h) from two accessions with distinct seed coat colour patterns. Two partial
LmF3h paralogues, with predicted 20% amino-acid changes but little predicted tertiary structure
alterations, were identified in the coloured seed genotype, while only one was present in the white
seed genotype. Upon selection and validation of appropriate reference genes, a RT-qPCR analysis
showed that these paralogues have different levels of expression during seed development in both
genotypes, although they follow the same expression patterns. DNA and transcription analyses
enabled to highlight potential F3H paralogues relatable to seed coat pigmentation in tarwi and, upon
biochemical and genetic confirmation, prompt marker-assisted breeding for relevant phenotypic
traits associated with flavonoid synthesisinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio