AcWRKY22 activates AcMYB210 to regulate light induced anthocyanin accumulation in kiwifruit leaves
5 affiliations
- 1School of Horticulture, Anhui Agricultural University
- 2Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Horticultural Crop Quality Biology, School of Horticulture, Anhui Agricultural University
- 3One Belt and One Road International Joint Research Center of Horticultural Products Quality and Post-Harvest Biotechnology in Anhui Province, School of Horticulture, Anhui Agricultural University
- 4New Zealand Institute for Bioeconomy Science
- 5School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland
Abstract
Background: Plant leaves often develop red coloration in response to aging and environmental changes. High light or continuous light treatments can elevate anthocyanins, which we observed in normally green kiwifruit leaves.
Methods and results: The underlying mechanism in this response was investigated using transcriptomic analysis. Results revealed that multiple anthocyanin biosynthesis genes, particularly Flavonoid-3-O-glucosyltransferase ( AcF3GT1a ), ( AcF3GT4 ) can convert unstable anthocyanidins into stable colored anthocyanins, and glutathione-S-transferase ( AcGST1 ) is responsible for the safe delivery of anthocyanins from the endoplasmic reticulum to the vacuole, were significantly upregulated under continuous light light-stress treatments. AcMYB210 , a member of the S6 MYB subfamily in kiwifruit with previously unknown function, was specifically induced. Dual-luciferase, yeast one-hybrid, and homologous genetic transformation assays confirmed that AcMYB210 directly binds to and activates the promoters of anthocyanin pathway genes, thereby promoting anthocyanin accumulation in kiwifruit leaves. A light-induced transcription factor, AcWRKY22 , was found to directly bind and activate the AcMYB210 promoter. In addition, AcMYB210 was highly expressed in plants whose leaves turned red after waterlogging stress.
Conclusions: In summary, our data reveal the critical role of the AcWRKY22-AcMYB210 module in mediating light signal regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis in kiwifruit leaves, providing new insights into the regulation of kiwifruit anthocyanin biosynthesis by light signals.
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BibTeX
@article{zhang2026acwrky22,
title = {{AcWRKY22 activates AcMYB210 to regulate light induced anthocyanin accumulation in kiwifruit leaves}},
author = {Yan Zhang and Hao-lin Zheng and Shi-jiang Cui and Zhi-xia Huang and Xiao-fen Liu and Andrew C. Allan and Xue-ren Yin and Zhu Xie and Wen-qiu Wang},
journal = {Frontiers in Plant Science},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fpls.2026.1944909},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1944909/full},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - AcWRKY22 activates AcMYB210 to regulate light induced anthocyanin accumulation in kiwifruit leaves
AU - Yan Zhang
AU - Hao-lin Zheng
AU - Shi-jiang Cui
AU - Zhi-xia Huang
AU - Xiao-fen Liu
AU - Andrew C. Allan
AU - Xue-ren Yin
AU - Zhu Xie
AU - Wen-qiu Wang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/05
JO - Frontiers in Plant Science
DO - 10.3389/fpls.2026.1944909
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1944909/full
AB - Background: Plant leaves often develop red coloration in response to aging and environmental changes. High light or continuous light treatments can elevate anthocyanins, which we observed in normally green kiwifruit leaves. Methods and results: The underlying mechanism in this response was investigated using transcriptomic analysis. Results revealed that multiple anthocyanin biosynthesis genes, particularly Flavonoid-3-O-glucosyltransferase ( AcF3GT1a ), ( AcF3GT4 ) can convert unstable anthocyanidins into stable colored anthocyanins, and glutathione-S-transferase ( AcGST1 ) is responsible for the safe delivery of anthocyanins from the endoplasmic reticulum to the vacuole, were significantly upregulated under continuous light light-stress treatments. AcMYB210 , a member of the S6 MYB subfamily in kiwifruit with previously unknown function, was specifically induced. Dual-luciferase, yeast one-hybrid, and homologous genetic transformation assays confirmed that AcMYB210 directly binds to and activates the promoters of anthocyanin pathway genes, thereby promoting anthocyanin accumulation in kiwifruit leaves. A light-induced transcription factor, AcWRKY22 , was found to directly bind and activate the AcMYB210 promoter. In addition, AcMYB210 was highly expressed in plants whose leaves turned red after waterlogging stress. Conclusions: In summary, our data reveal the critical role of the AcWRKY22-AcMYB210 module in mediating light signal regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis in kiwifruit leaves, providing new insights into the regulation of kiwifruit anthocyanin biosynthesis by light signals.
SN - 1664-462X
ER -