Proof of anthocyanins in the carnivorous plant genus Nepenthes

FEBS Open Bio

Michael Reichelt¹  Heiko Vogel²  Ding Wang³  Alberto Dávila‐Lara³  Axel Mithöfer³ 

[1] Department of Biochemistry Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology Jena Germany;Department of Insect Symbiosis Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology Jena Germany;Research Group Plant Defense Physiology Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology Jena Germany;

关键词: anthocyanins;    betalain;    Caryophyllales;    Nepenthes;    plant carnivory;   

DOI  :  10.1002/2211-5463.13255

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Yellow to red colored betalains are a chemotaxonomic feature of Caryophyllales, while in most other plant taxa, anthocyanins are responsible for these colors. The carnivorous plant family Nepenthaceae belongs to Caryophyllales; here, red‐pigmented tissues seem to attract insect prey. Strikingly, the chemical nature of red color in Nepenthes has never been elucidated. Although belonging to Caryophyllales, in Nepenthes, some molecular evidence supports the presence of anthocyanins rather than betalains. However, there was previously no direct chemical proof of this. Using ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography‐electrospray ionization‐high‐resolution mass spectrometry, we identified cyanidin glycosides in Nepenthes species and tissues. Further, we reveal the existence of a complete set of constitutively expressed anthocyanin biosynthetic genes in Nepenthes. Thus, here we finally conclude the long‐term open question regarding red pigmentation in Nepenthaceae.

【 授权许可】

Unknown