Purpose and DiversityPurpose and Diversityof Flavonoids in Plantsof Flavonoids in Plants

Jen TaylorJen Taylor

BioInformaticsBioInformatics

1 May 20031 May 2003

PhenolicsPhenolics

Group of secondary plant products or compoundsGroup of secondary plant products or compounds Composed of a hydroxyl group attached to an Composed of a hydroxyl group attached to an

aromatic ringaromatic ring A broad range of compounds - found in all A broad range of compounds - found in all

components of plants: leaves, flowers, fruit etccomponents of plants: leaves, flowers, fruit etc Function of most compounds is unknownFunction of most compounds is unknown Comprised of many groups: Flavonoids, Tannins, Comprised of many groups: Flavonoids, Tannins,

Lignin etc. All very chemically diverse!Lignin etc. All very chemically diverse!

FlavonoidsFlavonoids Water soluble pigment Water soluble pigment Most widely studied group of phenolics: over Most widely studied group of phenolics: over

3000 described3000 described Seem to have major health Seem to have major health benefits for humans - red benefits for humans - red wine and cholesterolwine and cholesterol Variety of important functions Variety of important functions in plantsin plants

Flavonoid FunctionsFlavonoid Functions

Combine to create flower pigmentation: serve Combine to create flower pigmentation: serve as signals for pollinatorsas signals for pollinators

Block UV radiation destructive to nucleic Block UV radiation destructive to nucleic acids acids

Allow selective admittance of Blue-Green and Allow selective admittance of Blue-Green and Red light for PhotosynthesisRed light for Photosynthesis

Flavonoid Functions Con’t.Flavonoid Functions Con’t. Reduces the palatability of plants or causes Reduces the palatability of plants or causes

herbivores to avoid the plants altogetherherbivores to avoid the plants altogether Affects interaction of plants with other organisms: Affects interaction of plants with other organisms:

Inhibit or encourages bacteria and mychorizzae Inhibit or encourages bacteria and mychorizzae associationsassociations

Have anti-oxidative effects, antimicrobial anti-Have anti-oxidative effects, antimicrobial anti-carcinogenic and cardio-protectivecarcinogenic and cardio-protective

Various classes of Flavoniods: Anthocyanins, Various classes of Flavoniods: Anthocyanins, Flavonols, Flavones, IsoFlavonesFlavonols, Flavones, IsoFlavones

AnthocyaninsAnthocyanins Range in color from Red through Purple and BlueRange in color from Red through Purple and Blue Main constituents of plant flower colorMain constituents of plant flower color Important in attracting pollinators and dispersersImportant in attracting pollinators and dispersers Mutualistic relationships!Mutualistic relationships!

Flavonols and FlavonesFlavonols and Flavones Mostly colorless pigments in the leaves of Mostly colorless pigments in the leaves of

plantsplants Control light admittance to leaves: Control light admittance to leaves:

photosynthesis and UV protectionphotosynthesis and UV protection Cause of leaf color change in the Fall: Cause of leaf color change in the Fall:

As Chlorophyll breaks down - large As Chlorophyll breaks down - large quantities of flavonols are converted to quantities of flavonols are converted to anthocyanins!anthocyanins!

IsoFlavonesIsoFlavones

Found mostly in Legumes (Fabaceae)Found mostly in Legumes (Fabaceae) Allelopathy – herbivory defense, pathogen Allelopathy – herbivory defense, pathogen

defense!defense!

Flavonoid BiosynthesisFlavonoid Biosynthesis

Constructed from the products of two different pathways And catalyzed by CHALCONE SYNTHASE

Chalcone SynthaseChalcone Synthase

Catalyzer of all FlavonoidsCatalyzer of all Flavonoids Collected mRNA sequences of all GCG plantsCollected mRNA sequences of all GCG plants Lilliaceae, Fabaceae, Pinaceae, Cannabaceae, Lilliaceae, Fabaceae, Pinaceae, Cannabaceae,

Rosaceae, PteridophytesRosaceae, Pteridophytes Many programs were used to see the relation Many programs were used to see the relation

of Chalcone Synthase genes between plant of Chalcone Synthase genes between plant speciesspecies

mRNA ConsensusmRNA Consensusalliuma.seg acgatacatg cacgtaaacg aacaaatact gaaatccaat ccgaacatgaalliuma.seg acgatacatg cacgtaaacg aacaaatact gaaatccaat ccgaacatgaalliumb.seg caggaaacgc tacatgcacc tgtccgaaga catcctaaac gaaaacccaaalliumb.seg caggaaacgc tacatgcacc tgtccgaaga catcctaaac gaaaacccaaarachis.seg gagatatatg tacttaacgg aggagatctt gaaagaaaac ccaaacatgtarachis.seg gagatatatg tacttaacgg aggagatctt gaaagaaaac ccaaacatgtcannabis.seg acgttacatg catttaactg aggagattct caaagaaaat ccaaatctttcannabis.seg acgttacatg catttaactg aggagattct caaagaaaat ccaaatctttequisetum.seg GAAGTCCGGG ATTAAGAAGC GGTACATGCA CTTGAACAGT GAAATTCTGAequisetum.seg GAAGTCCGGG ATTAAGAAGC GGTACATGCA CTTGAACAGT GAAATTCTGAgerbera.seg GGGACTCTCA AAATCCAAGA TCACACACCT CATCTTTTGC ACCACCGCTGgerbera.seg GGGACTCTCA AAATCCAAGA TCACACACCT CATCTTTTGC ACCACCGCTGglycine.seg gagatatatg tacctaaacg aagagatctt gaaagagaat ccaaacatgtglycine.seg gagatatatg tacctaaacg aagagatctt gaaagagaat ccaaacatgthumulus.seg GCGTTACATG CACTTAACTG AGGAGATCCT TAAGGAGAAT CCAAATCTTThumulus.seg GCGTTACATG CACTTAACTG AGGAGATCCT TAAGGAGAAT CCAAATCTTThypericum.seg acgttacatg tacctgaacg aggagattct gaaggagaac cccaatatgthypericum.seg acgttacatg tacctgaacg aggagattct gaaggagaac cccaatatgtmalus.seg acgttatatg tacttgactg aagaaatttt aaaagagaac ccaagtgtgtmalus.seg acgttatatg tacttgactg aagaaatttt aaaagagaac ccaagtgtgtmsatvia.seg CTGAAGTCAC TGCAGTTACA TTTCGCGGCC CTAGTGATAC TCACTTGGACmsatvia.seg CTGAAGTCAC TGCAGTTACA TTTCGCGGCC CTAGTGATAC TCACTTGGACpinus1.seg atccgcaata aaaaagagat atatgtactt gacagaggag atcctccaggpinus1.seg atccgcaata aaaaagagat atatgtactt gacagaggag atcctccaggpinus2.seg atccgcaata aaaaagagat atatgtactt gacagaggag atccttcaggpinus2.seg atccgcaata aaaaagagat atatgtactt gacagaggag atccttcaggpsilotum.seg CATGCATCTT ACTCCAGAAA TCCTGGAAGC TAATCCTGCC ATGTGCGCCTpsilotum.seg CATGCATCTT ACTCCAGAAA TCCTGGAAGC TAATCCTGCC ATGTGCGCCTrubus11.seg gcgttacatg tacttaactg aagaaatcct gaaggagaat cctagtatgtrubus11.seg gcgttacatg tacttaactg aagaaatcct gaaggagaat cctagtatgtrubus5.seg gcgttacatg tacttgacgg aagaaatcct gaaggagaat cctagtatgtrubus5.seg gcgttacatg tacttgacgg aagaaatcct gaaggagaat cctagtatgtrubus6.seg gcgttacatg tacttgacgg aagaaatcct gaaggagaat cctagtatgtrubus6.seg gcgttacatg tacttgacgg aagaaatcct gaaggagaat cctagtatgtsenna2.seg gcgatacatg catttaaccg aagatcttct aaaggagaat cctaatatgtsenna2.seg gcgatacatg catttaaccg aagatcttct aaaggagaat cctaatatgtsenna3.seg aagatacatg catttgacag aagagatcct aaaggagaac cctaacatgtsenna3.seg aagatacatg catttgacag aagagatcct aaaggagaac cctaacatgtsenns1.seg gagatacatg cacttgacag aggagatcct caaggagaac cctaacatgtsenns1.seg gagatacatg cacttgacag aggagatcct caaggagaac cctaacatgtsorghum.seg gatgattagg aagcgttaca tgcatttgac tgaggacatc ctagaggagasorghum.seg gatgattagg aagcgttaca tgcatttgac tgaggacatc ctagaggagaConsensus --G--A-ATG -A----A--- A--A--T--T -AA-GA-AA- -C-A------Consensus --G--A-ATG -A----A--- A--A--T--T -AA-GA-AA- -C-A------

Protein ConsensusProtein Consensuspileup_108.msf{translate_105} QDIVVVEVPK LGKSAAQSAI KEWGRPKAHI THLIFCTTSG VDMPGADYQL pileup_108.msf{translate_105} QDIVVVEVPK LGKSAAQSAI KEWGRPKAHI THLIFCTTSG VDMPGADYQL

pileup_108.msf{translate_106} QDIVVVEIPK LGKSAAQAAI KEWGRPKSHI THLIFCTTSG GDMPGADYQL pileup_108.msf{translate_106} QDIVVVEIPK LGKSAAQAAI KEWGRPKSHI THLIFCTTSG GDMPGADYQL

pileup_108.msf{translate_96} QDMVVVEVPR LGKEAAAKAI KEWGQPKSKI THVIFCTTSG VDMPGADYQL pileup_108.msf{translate_96} QDMVVVEVPR LGKEAAAKAI KEWGQPKSKI THVIFCTTSG VDMPGADYQL

pileup_108.msf{translate_97} QDMVVVEVPR LGKEAAAKAI KEWGQPKSKI THVIFCTTSG VDMPGADYQL pileup_108.msf{translate_97} QDMVVVEVPR LGKEAAAKAI KEWGQPKSKI THVIFCTTSG VDMPGADYQL

pileup_108.msf{translate_89} QDMVVVEVPK LGKEAATKAI KEWGQPKSKI THLIVCTTSG VDMPGADYQL pileup_108.msf{translate_89} QDMVVVEVPK LGKEAATKAI KEWGQPKSKI THLIVCTTSG VDMPGADYQL

pileup_108.msf{translate_89-2} QDMVVVEVPK LGKEAATKAI KEWGQPKSKI THLIVCTTSG VDMPGADYQL pileup_108.msf{translate_89-2} QDMVVVEVPK LGKEAATKAI KEWGQPKSKI THLIVCTTSG VDMPGADYQL

pileup_108.msf{translate_87} QDIVVLEVPK LGKEAATKAI KEWGQPKSKI THLIFCTTSG VDMPGADYQL pileup_108.msf{translate_87} QDIVVLEVPK LGKEAATKAI KEWGQPKSKI THLIFCTTSG VDMPGADYQL

pileup_108.msf{translate_88} QDIVVLEVPK LGKEAATKAI KEWGQPKSKI THLIFCTTSG VDMPGADYQL pileup_108.msf{translate_88} QDIVVLEVPK LGKEAATKAI KEWGQPKSKI THLIFCTTSG VDMPGADYQL

pileup_108.msf{translate_101} QDMVVVEVPK LGKEAAVKAI KEWGQPKSKI THLIFCTTSG VDMPGADYQL pileup_108.msf{translate_101} QDMVVVEVPK LGKEAAVKAI KEWGQPKSKI THLIFCTTSG VDMPGADYQL

pileup_108.msf{translate_104} QDMVVVEVPR LGKEAATKAI KEWGQPKSKI THLIFCTTSG VDMPGADYQL pileup_108.msf{translate_104} QDMVVVEVPR LGKEAATKAI KEWGQPKSKI THLIFCTTSG VDMPGADYQL

pileup_108.msf{translate_103} QDMVVVEVPK LGKEAATKAI KEWGQPKSKI THLVFCTTSG VDMPGADYQL pileup_108.msf{translate_103} QDMVVVEVPK LGKEAATKAI KEWGQPKSKI THLVFCTTSG VDMPGADYQL

pileup_108.msf{translate_100} QDMVVVEVPK LGKEAATKAI KEWGQPKSEI THVVFCTTSG VDMPGADYQL pileup_108.msf{translate_100} QDMVVVEVPK LGKEAATKAI KEWGQPKSEI THVVFCTTSG VDMPGADYQL

pileup_108.msf{translate_93} QDMVVVEIPK LGKEAATKAI KEWGQPKSKI THLVFCTTSG VDMPGADYQL pileup_108.msf{translate_93} QDMVVVEIPK LGKEAATKAI KEWGQPKSKI THLVFCTTSG VDMPGADYQL

pileup_108.msf{translate_94} QDMVVVEIPK LGKEAATKAI KEWGQPKSKI THLVFCTTSG VDMPGADYQL pileup_108.msf{translate_94} QDMVVVEIPK LGKEAATKAI KEWGQPKSKI THLVFCTTSG VDMPGADYQL

pileup_108.msf{translate_90} QDMVVVEIPK LGKEAATKAI KEWGQPKSKI THLVFCTTSG VDMPGADYQL pileup_108.msf{translate_90} QDMVVVEIPK LGKEAATKAI KEWGQPKSKI THLVFCTTSG VDMPGADYQL

pileup_108.msf{translate_99} QDMVVVEVPK LGKEAAIKAI KEWGQPKSKI THLVFCTTSG VDMPGADYQL pileup_108.msf{translate_99} QDMVVVEVPK LGKEAAIKAI KEWGQPKSKI THLVFCTTSG VDMPGADYQL

pileup_108.msf{translate_98} QDIVVVEVPK LGKEAAVRAI KEWGQPKSKI THLVFCTTSG VDMPGADYQL pileup_108.msf{translate_98} QDIVVVEVPK LGKEAAVRAI KEWGQPKSKI THLVFCTTSG VDMPGADYQL

pileup_108.msf{translate_102} QDIAVVEVPK LGKEASLKAI KEWGQPKSKI THLVFCTTSG VDMPGADWAL pileup_108.msf{translate_102} QDIAVVEVPK LGKEASLKAI KEWGQPKSKI THLVFCTTSG VDMPGADWAL

pileup_108.msf{translate_95} QDIVVIEVPK LGKEAAVKAI KEWGQPRTKI THLVFCTTSG VDMPGADWTL pileup_108.msf{translate_95} QDIVVIEVPK LGKEAAVKAI KEWGQPRTKI THLVFCTTSG VDMPGADWTL

Consensus QD-VVVEVPK LGKEAA-KAI KEWGQPKSKI THLIFCTTSG VDMPGADYQL Consensus QD-VVVEVPK LGKEAA-KAI KEWGQPKSKI THLIFCTTSG VDMPGADYQL

Phylogenetic TreePhylogenetic TreeSENNA2

SENNS1

SENNA3

MALUS

RUBUS6

RUBUS5

RUBUS11

HUMULUS

CANNABIS

PSILOTUM

EQUISETUM

PINUS2

PINUS1

MATTHIOLA

ALLIUMB

ALLIUMA

GLYCINE

ARACHIS

Fabaceae = Blue

Rosaceae = Red

Cannabaceae = Orange

Pteridophytes = Purple

Pinaceae = Green

Lilliaceae = Yellow

Localization Potential by FamilyLocalization Potential by Family

Fabaceae (one branch), Cannabaceae, Fabaceae (one branch), Cannabaceae, Lilliaceae, Pinaceae = 45% cytoplasmLilliaceae, Pinaceae = 45% cytoplasm

Rosaceae = 60% cytoplasmRosaceae = 60% cytoplasm Fabaceae (other branch) and Pteridophytes = Fabaceae (other branch) and Pteridophytes =

34% mitochondrial matrix34% mitochondrial matrix

Relation to Phylogenetic Tree?Relation to Phylogenetic Tree?

ConclusionConclusion

Flavonoids serve a variety of important Flavonoids serve a variety of important functions in all plantsfunctions in all plants

Chalcone synthase exists in a variety of plant Chalcone synthase exists in a variety of plant speciesspecies

Gene sequence and protein location may be Gene sequence and protein location may be indicators of flavonoid function in plants!indicators of flavonoid function in plants!