Plant biochemistry: Anthocyanin biosynthesis in roses

摘要: Anthocyanin is the principal pigment in flowers, conferring intense red-to-blue cyanic colours on petals and helping to attract pollinators. Its biosynthesis involves glycosylation steps that are important for stability of its aqueous solubility vacuoles1,2. Here we describe anthocyanin roses (Rosa hybrida), which unlike pathway used other flowers it relies a single enzyme achieve at two different positions precursor molecule. Phylogenetic analysis also indicates this previously unknown glucosyltransferase may be unique roses, with having apparently evolved into stabilizing step plants.