Expression of the R2R3 MYB transcription factors in Vitis amurensis Rupr. plants and cell cultures with different resveratrol content

Abstract

Grapevine Vitis amurensis Rupr. accumulates several valuable secondary metabolites; the most known is resveratrol—a key compound in biosynthesis of stilbenes. There is lack in the information of the regulation of the resveratrol biosynthesis in grapevin. For example, the grapevine MYB R2R3 (MYB) transcription factors (TFs) were found to modulate several branches of the flavonoid pathway. The flavonoid pathway is close to the stilbene pathway; therefore, we decided to investigate expression of the 22 MYB genes in the grape V. amurensis cell cultures and plant parts with different resveratrol content. Using real-time PCR, we showed that MYB9, 14, 15а, 60, 40, and 107 expression increased in several probes with the highest resveratrol content; therefore, probably, those genes are positive regulators of the stilbene biosynthesis. Also, we discussed the participation of the MYB transcription factors in the regulation of the stilbene biosynthesis in the grape cells.