An in silico analysis of the key genes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis in Citrus sinensis

Abstract

Citrus species are known by their high content of phenolic compounds, including a wide range of flavonoids. In plants, these compounds are involved in protection against biotic and abiotic stresses, cell structure, UV protection, attraction of pollinators and seed dispersal. In humans, flavonoid consumption has been related to increasing overall health and fighting some important diseases. The goals of this study were to identify expressed sequence tags (EST) in Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck corresponding to genes involved in general phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and the key genes involved in the main flavonoids pathways (flavanones, flavones, flavonols, leucoanthocyanidins, anthocyanins and isoflavonoids). A thorough analysis of all related putative genes from the Citrus EST (CitEST) database revealed several interesting aspects associated to these pathways and brought novel information with promising usefulness for both basic and biotechnological applications.