Identification of the GST Gene Family and Functional Analysis of RcGSTF2 Related to Anthocyanin in Rosa chinensis ‘Old Blush’

作者：Ting Zhang, Han Wu, Yujia Sun, Peiheng Zhang, Lixia Li, Dan Luo, Zhe Wu · 发表于：Plants · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.3390/plants14060932 · 被引用次数：5 · 研究领域：Plant Gene Expression Analysis、Plant biochemistry and biosynthesis、Genomics, phytochemicals, and oxidative stress

The rose (Rosa chinensis), with its rich color variations and elegant form, holds a significant position in the global floriculture industry, where the color of its petals and the content of anthocyanins are crucial for enhancing the plant’s ornamental value and market competitiveness. Nevertheless, the precise roles of the GST gene family in roses, especially regarding their participation in anthocyanin transport and the modulation of petal color, remain poorly elucidated. In the present investigation, we identified 83 rose glutathione S-transferase (GST) genes through whole-genome analysis. The identification and functional analysis of RcGSTF2 were conducted exclusively in the ‘Old Blush’ cultivar of Rosa chinensis. We employed bioinformatics, tissue expression analysis, subcellular localization, and transient expression validation to explore the function of the RcGSTF2 gene in anthocyanin transport and accumulation. We found that RcGSTF2 is closely related to anthocyanin-associated GSTs and demonstrated a conserved domain with high sequence similarity. Molecular docking analysis revealed potential binding modes between RcGSTF2 and cyanidin-3,5-diglucoside, suggesting a role in anthocyanin transport. Subcellular localization indicated that RcGSTF2 is associated with the cell membrane. Overexpression of RcGSTF2 in rose plants significantly increased anthocyanin accumulation, while silencing RcGSTF2 reduced anthocyanin content, highlighting its crucial role in regulating anth...