Flavonoids: a metabolic network mediating plants adaptation to their real estate

Abstract

From an evolutionary perspective, the emergence of the sophisticated chemical scaffolds of flavonoid molecules represents a key step in the colonization of Earth’s terrestrial environment by vascular plants nearly 500 million years ago. The subsequent evolution of flavonoids through recruitment and modification of ancestors involved in primary metabolism has allowed vascular plants to cope with pathogen invasion and damaging UV light. The functional properties of flavonoids as a unique combination of different classes of compounds vary significantly depending on the demands of their local real estate. Apart from geographical location, the composition of flavonoids is largely dependent on the plant species, their developmental stage, tissue type, subcellular localization, and key ecological influences of both biotic and abiotic origin. Molecular and metabolic cross-talk between flavonoid and other pathways as a result of the re-direction of intermediate molecules have been well investigated. This metabolic plasticity is a key factor in plant adaptive strength and is of paramount importance for early land plants adaptation to their local ecosystems. In human and animal health the biological and pharmacological activities of flavonoids have been investigated in great depth and have shown a wide range of anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-microbial, and anti-cancer properties. In this paper we review the application of advanced gene technologies for targeted reprogramming of the flavonoid pathway in plants to understand its molecular functions and explore opportunities for major improvements in forage plants enhancing animal health and production.

The Transcriptional Repressor MYB2 Regulates Both Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Proanthocyandin and Anthocyanin Pigmentation inMedicago truncatula

“…Both classes of compounds are found as secondary metabolites in a variety of plant species associated with diverse biological and ecological functions (Koes et al, 2005). Anthocyanin pigmentation of various plant organs (flower, leaf, and fruit) aids pollination and seed dispersal and protects against high-light damage (Mouradov and Spangenberg, 2014). Besides their contribution to seed coat pigmentation, PAs are generally considered to act in defense mechanisms against herbivory and fungal pathogens, and the presence of PA has been considered as an important trait in forage crops to prevent pasture bloat and improve nitrogen nutrition in ruminant livestock .…”

Phytochemical and TLC Profiling of Oroxylum indicum and Milletia pachycarpa

“…A similar observation has been made earlier [38].The flavonoids are polyphenolic compounds and they protect plants against pathogenesis, stress and the adverse effect of UV light and also provide multitude of colours to flowers that help in pollination [39][40][41]. No wonder that plants produce a wide array of more than 8000 different flavonoids.…”

Cloning, expression and molecular modeling of the anthocyanidin reductase (FaANR) gene during strawberry fruit development

“…Plants belonging to clade I, are known to accumulate flavonoids like anthocyanidins and proanthocyanidins. Among them, genera Prunus and Fragaria × ananassa show maximum accumulation of these compounds (Treutter, 1988;Mouradov and Spangenberg, 2014). Till now the FaANR from strawberry has not been phylogenetically analyzed.…”