cDNA Cloning and Gene Expression of Anthocyanidin Synthase from Torenia fournieri

Abstract

The cDNA clone, TAN1, encoding anthocyanidin synthase (ANS) was isolated by screening of a cDNA library constructed from flower petals of Torenia fournieri cv. Summer Wave Blue using a heterologous probe. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that it contains an open reading frame encoding a polypeptide of 376 amino acids. The postulated amino acid sequence shows 48% to 72% identities with those of previously reported ANSs. Southern blot analysis suggested that there is a single copy of ANS gene in the genome of T. fournieri. Northern blot analysis indicated that ANS gene is expressed in flower bud but not in leaf or mature flower.