Abstract
We isolated a high-light (HL) inducible NAC transcription factor named ANAC078. To identify the genes targeted by ANAC078, we conducted a transcriptome analysis of the transgenic Arabidopsis plants overexpressing ANAC078 (Ox-ANAC078) and wild-type plants using a DNA microarray. In Ox-ANAC078, the transcription of 166 genes was up-regulated compared with the levels in wild-type plants under HL. These genes included some for transcription factors regulating the expression of genes related to the biosynthesis of flavonoids. Interestingly, the transcript levels of some genes related to flavonoid biosynthesis and the levels of anthocyanins were significantly increased in the Ox-ANAC078 plants and reduced in knockout ANAC078 plants (KO-ANAC078) compared with the wild-type plants under HL stress. The present findings suggest that ANAC078 protein is associated with the induction of genes related to flavonoid biosynthesis, leading to the accumulation of anthocyanins, in response to HL stress (Morishita et al., 2009).
