1.College of Plant Science, Xizang Agricultural and Animal Husbandry University, Linzhi, Xizang 860000, China
2.Southern Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Crop Breeding, Wenzhou Vocational College of Science and Technology Wenzhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325006, China
This study aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying anthocyanin biosynthesis in the epidermis of turnip (Brassica rapa) fleshy roots. White-skinned (GPB) and purple-skinned (GPZ) turnip varieties were selected for phenotypic observation, anthocyanin quantification, and transcriptome analysis. The results showed that the anthocyanin content in GPZ was 15-fold higher than in GPB, with 8,866 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) identified, predominantly enriched in metabolic pathways and signal transduction. The findings suggest that the upregulated expression of key genes(BraA03g007774E and BraA10g047590E) and their promoter variations may be critical for purple epidermis formation. These results provide a theoretical foundation for understanding the mechanisms of purple pigmentation in turnip fleshy roots.
芜菁(Brassica rapa L. 2n=2x=20)是十字花科芸薹属芸薹种下的一个亚种,属于2 a生草本植物[12]。该植物以其肥大的肉质根和新鲜叶片作为人类食物或牲畜饲料而广泛栽培。作为一种食、饲、药兼用型植物,芜菁的肉质根含有丰富的营养成分,包括多糖、维生素、叶酸以及钙等矿物质[13,14]。研究表明,芜菁具有多种生物活性,包括抗氧化[15]、抗肿瘤[16]和延缓衰老[17]等功效。Zhuang等通过对紫色和绿色芜菁进行转录组和代谢组学分析,发现DFR基因编码区核苷酸突变导致转录提前终止,这可能是芜菁肉质根表皮呈现紫色的分子基础[18]。但是,关于芜菁肉质根表皮花青素合成代谢途径相关基因挖掘的研究则未见报道。为此,本研究试图以白色芜菁(GPB)和紫色芜菁(GPZ)为试验材料,系统调查定植后不同天数的农艺性状,并在收获期采集肉质根表皮进行转录组测序,通过生物信息学分析筛选差异表达基因,并对其进行GO功能注释和KEGG通路富集分析,挖掘参与花青素合成代谢通路的关键基因。这些研究结果为深入解析芜菁肉质根紫色表皮形成的分子机制奠定重要的理论基础。
采用植物总RNA提取试剂盒对GPB和GPL的RNA进行提取,并对提取的RNA质量进行检测。挑选出质量合格的RNA样品,利用特异性结合mRNA的Oligo(dT)磁珠去除其中的rRNA,之后加入片段化缓冲液对mRNA进行随机打断。在逆转录酶体系中,以片段化的mRNA为模板,使用六碱基随机引物合成cDNA的第一条链;随后于DNA聚合酶体系中,以dNTPs为原料合成cDNA的第二条链。将纯化后的双链cDNA进行加A尾操作,之后连接测序接头,采用AMPure XP beads筛选出长度约为200 bp的cDNA,进行PCR扩增,再使用AMPure XP beads纯化PCR产物,最终获得cDNA文库。对质检合格的样品进行Illumina测序。
运用HISAT2软件将高质量测序数据比对到芜菁ECD04参考基因组(ECD04.v0)上,之后借助Stringtie软件重构转录本,再通过RSEM软件计算各样本中所有基因的reads数与FPKM(Fragments per kilobase of transcript per million fragments mapped)值[20,21]。在此基础上,利用DESeq2软件分析GPB和GPL之间的差异表达基因(differentially expressed genes,DEGs),以基因表达变化倍数的绝对值(|FoldChange|) ≥ 2且错误发现率(False Discovery Rate,FDR) < 0.05作为筛选标准[22];最后,采用R脚本对筛选得到的DEGs开展基因本体论(GO,Gene Ontology)和KEGG富集分析,以P value < 0.05为阈值,若满足该条件表明相应的GO功能注释条目或KEGG富集通路存在显著富集。
1.7 实时荧光定量RT-qPCR验证
根据南京诺唯赞生物科技股份有限公司生产的HiScript II Q RT SuperMix for qPCR(+gDNA wiper)产品说明书完成cDNA反转录过程;引物设计借助NCBI(National Center for Biotechnology Information)平台开展,具体引物序列详见表1;以该公司生产的AceQ® qPCR SYBR Green Master Mix为基础建立PCR体系并确定反应程序,使用CFX Connect实时荧光定量PCR系统开展RT-qPCR试验。试验过程中选取芜菁Actin作为内参基因,通过△Ct方法计算目标基因的相对表达量[23]。
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