Molecular characterization of PgUFGT gene and R2R3-PgMYB transcription factor involved in flavonoid biosynthesis in four tissues of wild pomegranate (Punica granatum L.).

The diversity on fruit colouration in plants directly depends on the flavonoids that explain the development of different pigmentation patterns. Anthocyanins are the major class of flavonoid pigments that are synthesized through flavonoid biosynthetic pathway. In the present study, two genes: PgUFGT gene and R2R3-PgMYB gene, involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis were analysed in four tissues of wild pomegranate. The structural genes, UDP-glucose: flavonoid-3-O-glucosyl transferase (PgUFGT; GenBank accession number: MK058491) and its myeloblastosis transcription factor (R2R3-PgMYB; GenBank accession number: MK092063) were isolated and their expression pattern were studied. Molecular modelling indicated that the main secondary structures of PgUFGT and R2R3-PgMYB genes are α-helix and random coil. In addition, expression profiling of PgUFGT and R2R3-PgMYB by quantitative-real time PCR indicated a positive correlation between anthocyanin content and their expression in leaves, flowers, green and red fruits of wild pomegranate. Among all the tissues, the red fruit exhibited high transcripts levels of PgUFGT as well as R2R3-PgMYB transcription factor. An extensive homology with UFGTs from other plants was revealed on comparative and bioinformatic analyses. Present study reveals that PgUFGT plays a predominant role in anthocyanin content in wild pomegranate fruits. Further, it is strongly suggested that R2R3-PgMYB transcription factor regulates the anthocyanin biosynthesis in wild pomegranate via expression of PgUFGT gene. This is the first study which provides an insight on expression profile of PgUFGT and R2R3-PgMYB that are involved in colour development and fruit ripening in wild pomegranate.