Structure and transcription of three chalcone synthase genes of grapevine (Vitis vinifera)

Chalcone synthase catalyzes the first step for-the biosynthesis of anthocyanin, which is an important component of grapevine for red wine making. To reveal the details of the gene family of the chalcone synthase of grapevine, three genomic clones of the chalcone synthase gene, Chs1 (AB015872), Chs2 (AB066275), and Chs3 (AB066274), were obtained from Vitis vinifera cv. Cabernet Sauvignon, and their structure and mRNA accumulation in grape berry skin and other tissues were compared. The homology between Chs1 and Chs2 (96% on the amino acid level) was higher than the homologies between Chs3 and Chs1 and Chs3 and Chs2 (89% each). Phylogenetic analysis showed that Chs3 was more closely related to morning glory Chs-E and petunia Chs-A than to Chs1 and Chs2. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis showed that the mRNA of Chs3 accumulated mainly in the berry skin of red cultivars during coloration, while the mRNA of Chs1 and Chs2 accumulated in the leaves and berry skin of a white cultivar as well as red cultivars. Thus, the three Chss of grapevine seemed to be under a different transcription control. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.