Transcriptome and metabolome combine to analyze the mechanism of leaf coloration formation in Aeonium arboretum ‘Pink Sybil’

Transcriptome and metabolome combine to analyze the mechanism of leaf coloration formation in Aeonium arboretum ‘Pink Sybil’ | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Transcriptome and metabolome combine to analyze the mechanism of leaf coloration formation in Aeonium arboretum ‘Pink Sybil’ Suhua Li, Rong Zhao, Haozhang Han, Lihua Zhang, Fang Wang, Nan Zhang, and 1 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3972212/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 28 Nov, 2024 Read the published version in Plant Molecular Biology Reporter → Version 1 posted 7 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract The decorative quality of succulents largely stems from their leaf color. Aeonium arboreum's pink Sybil leaves feature an eye-catching stripe pattern and are particularly favored by customers, although the underlying mechanisms of its distinctive coloration are unknown. This study analyzed Aeonium arboreum ‘Pink Sybil’ leaves at the cellular and molecular levels. UHPLC-HRMS identified 11 flavonoid-related metabolites, showing elevated levels in RS samples. Cyanidin 3-galactoside emerged as the predominant compound, representing 93.4% of the total flavonoid content in RS samples(the red part of leaf margin), which was substantially greater than in the GM samples༈the green part of leaf center༉. Freehand slices revealed that anthocyanins, which contribute to the red coloring, were predominantly accumulated in the epidermal cells of the red tissue, in contrast to their presence in the green leaf tissue. Furthermore, cyanidin 3,5-diglucoside was not identified in GM but only in RS. The comparison of two transcripts identified 1,817 DEGs, with 1,123 up-regulated and 694 down-regulated genes. KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that the 20 most significantly enriched DEGs were involved in metabolic pathways, notably the phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis pathways, which were closely related to the metabolism of anthocyanins. The majority of the structural genes and transcription factors involved in flavonoid metabolism were shown to be up-regulated using qRT-PCR. Phylogenetic analysis of transcription factors and co-expression network analysis of various metabolites and genes identified one MYB transcription factor, Aa PHL7, and three NAC transcription factors, Aa NAC102, Aa NAC045, and Aa NAC017, which may be involved in the regulation of anthocyanin synthesis in the leaves of the Aeonium arboreum ‘Pink Sybil’. The expression of these structural genes was highly and positively linked with the levels of anthocyanidins, such as Cyanidin 3,5-diglucoside and Cyanidin 3-galactoside. These compounds synergistically increase the expression of CHS1, CHS2, UFGT1, UFGT2, and 4CL during anthocyanin production. The study's findings identified the primary differential metabolites in the red tissue RS and green tissue GM of Aeonium arboretum ‘Pink Sybil’ leaves. This insight lays the groundwork for the initial identification of structural genes and transcription factors that show a strong and positive link with these metabolites. Our findings pave the way for a deeper understanding of the biochemical processes behind leaf discoloration in Aeonium arboreum ‘Pink Sybil’. Aeonium arboretum ‘Pink Sybil’ leaf coloration Transcriptome Metabolome Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Supplementary Files SUPPLEMENTARYINFORMATION.pdf Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 28 Nov, 2024 Read the published version in Plant Molecular Biology Reporter → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 19 Aug, 2024 Reviews received at journal 09 May, 2024 Reviewers agreed at journal 30 Apr, 2024 Reviewers invited by journal 29 Apr, 2024 Submission checks completed at journal 20 Feb, 2024 Editor assigned by journal 20 Feb, 2024 First submitted to journal 20 Feb, 2024 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-3972212","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":273881321,"identity":"7643a934-fff5-4895-bb78-844db0ebd5d5","order_by":0,"name":"Suhua Li","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Suqian University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Suhua","middleName":"","lastName":"Li","suffix":""},{"id":273881322,"identity":"222edef9-9c01-4dc3-9739-688f39f837a0","order_by":1,"name":"Rong Zhao","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Suqian 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Aeonium arboreum's pink Sybil leaves feature an eye-catching stripe pattern and are particularly favored by customers, although the underlying mechanisms of its distinctive coloration are unknown. This study analyzed \u003cem\u003eAeonium arboreum\u003c/em\u003e \u0026lsquo;Pink Sybil\u0026rsquo; leaves at the cellular and molecular levels. UHPLC-HRMS identified 11 flavonoid-related metabolites, showing elevated levels in RS samples. Cyanidin 3-galactoside emerged as the predominant compound, representing 93.4% of the total flavonoid content in RS samples(the red part of leaf margin), which was substantially greater than in the GM samples༈the green part of leaf center༉. Freehand slices revealed that anthocyanins, which contribute to the red coloring, were predominantly accumulated in the epidermal cells of the red tissue, in contrast to their presence in the green leaf tissue. Furthermore, cyanidin 3,5-diglucoside was not identified in GM but only in RS. The comparison of two transcripts identified 1,817 DEGs, with 1,123 up-regulated and 694 down-regulated genes. KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that the 20 most significantly enriched DEGs were involved in metabolic pathways, notably the phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis pathways, which were closely related to the metabolism of anthocyanins. The majority of the structural genes and transcription factors involved in flavonoid metabolism were shown to be up-regulated using qRT-PCR. Phylogenetic analysis of transcription factors and co-expression network analysis of various metabolites and genes identified one MYB transcription factor, Aa PHL7, and three NAC transcription factors, Aa NAC102, Aa NAC045, and Aa NAC017, which may be involved in the regulation of anthocyanin synthesis in the leaves of the \u003cem\u003eAeonium arboreum\u003c/em\u003e \u0026lsquo;Pink Sybil\u0026rsquo;. The expression of these structural genes was highly and positively linked with the levels of anthocyanidins, such as Cyanidin 3,5-diglucoside and Cyanidin 3-galactoside. These compounds synergistically increase the expression of CHS1, CHS2, UFGT1, UFGT2, and 4CL during anthocyanin production. The study's findings identified the primary differential metabolites in the red tissue RS and green tissue GM of \u003cem\u003eAeonium arboretum\u003c/em\u003e \u0026lsquo;Pink Sybil\u0026rsquo; leaves. This insight lays the groundwork for the initial identification of structural genes and transcription factors that show a strong and positive link with these metabolites. Our findings pave the way for a deeper understanding of the biochemical processes behind leaf discoloration in \u003cem\u003eAeonium arboreum\u003c/em\u003e \u0026lsquo;Pink Sybil\u0026rsquo;.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Transcriptome and metabolome combine to analyze the mechanism of leaf coloration formation in Aeonium arboretum ‘Pink Sybil’","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2024-02-22 18:16:23","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-3972212/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2024-08-19T10:05:53+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2024-05-10T01:53:51+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"282651533397190946152632844134850805000","date":"2024-04-30T05:25:46+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2024-04-29T11:47:20+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2024-02-20T13:14:49+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2024-02-20T13:14:49+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Plant Molecular Biology Reporter","date":"2024-02-20T08:21:53+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"plant-molecular-biology-reporter","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"pmbr","sideBox":"Learn more about [Plant Molecular Biology Reporter](http://link.springer.com/journal/11105)","snPcode":"11105","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/11105/3","title":"Plant Molecular Biology Reporter","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"21ed4db1-6143-4d04-b1dc-02e251fb6424","owner":[],"postedDate":"February 22nd, 2024","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"published-in-journal","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2024-12-02T17:24:40+00:00","versionOfRecord":{"articleIdentity":"rs-3972212","link":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11105-024-01518-6","journal":{"identity":"plant-molecular-biology-reporter","isVorOnly":false,"title":"Plant Molecular Biology Reporter"},"publishedOn":"2024-11-28 15:57:09","publishedOnDateReadable":"November 28th, 2024"},"versionCreatedAt":"2024-02-22 18:16:23","video":"","vorDoi":"10.1007/s11105-024-01518-6","vorDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11105-024-01518-6","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-3972212","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-3972212","identity":"rs-3972212","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"qtupq5eGEP_6zYnWcrvyt","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}