Identification and expression analysis of MATE genes involved in flavonoid transport in blueberry plants

PLoS One. 2015 Mar 17;10(3):e0118578. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0118578. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Multidrug and toxic compound extrusion (MATE) proteins are the most recently identified family of multidrug transporters. In plants, this family is remarkably large compared to the human and bacteria counterpart, highlighting the importance of MATE proteins in this kingdom. Here 33 Unigenes annotated as MATE transporters were found in the blueberry fruit transcriptome, of which eight full-length cDNA sequences were identified and cloned. These proteins are composed of 477-517 residues, with molecular masses ~54 kDa, and theoretical isoelectric points from 5.35 to 8.41. Bioinformatics analysis predicted 10-12 putative transmembrane segments for VcMATEs, and localization to the plasma membrane without an N-terminal signal peptide. All blueberry MATE proteins shared 32.1-84.4% identity, among which VcMATE2, VcMATE3, VcMATE5, VcMATE7, VcMATE8, and VcMATE9 were more similar to the MATE-type flavonoid transporters. Phylogenetic analysis showed VcMATE2, VcMATE3, VcMATE5, VcMATE7, VcMATE8 and VcMATE9 clustered with MATE-type flavonoid transporters, indicating that they might be involved in flavonoid transport. VcMATE1 and VcMATE4 may be involved in the transport of secondary metabolites, the detoxification of xenobiotics, or the export of toxic cations. Real-time quantitative PCR demonstrated that the expression profile of the eight VcMATE genes varied spatially and temporally. Analysis of expression and anthocyanin accumulation indicated that there were some correlation between the expression profile and the accumulation of anthocyanins. These results showed VcMATEs might be involved in diverse physiological functions, and anthocyanins across the membranes might be mutually maintained by MATE-type flavonoid transporters and other mechanisms. This study will enrich the MATE-based transport mechanisms of secondary metabolite, and provide a new biotechonology strategy to develop better nutritional blueberry cultivars.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Biological Transport
  • Blueberry Plants / genetics*
  • Blueberry Plants / growth & development
  • Blueberry Plants / metabolism*
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Flavonoids / metabolism*
  • Fruit / growth & development
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant*
  • Genes, Plant / genetics
  • Genomics*
  • Humans
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Phylogeny
  • Plant Proteins / chemistry
  • Plant Proteins / genetics*
  • Plant Proteins / metabolism*
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Sequence Alignment

Substances

  • Flavonoids
  • Plant Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant no. 31301755), the Special Fund for Agro-scientific Research in the Public Interest of China (grant no. 201103037), the Doctoral Program Foundation of Institutions of Higher Education of China (grant no. 2013223120004), the Preferred Foundation of Scientific Research for Returned Overseas Chinese Scholar, the state human resource ministry of china, and the Breeding Foundation of Jilin Province Department of Finance (2012004). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. No additional external funding received for this study.