Brassica napus possesses enhanced antioxidant capacity via heterologous expression of anthocyanin pathway gene transcription factors

Anthocyanins are one of the largest and most important groups of water-soluble pigments in most species in the plant kingdom. They are flavonoid derivatives and colorful pigments of plant tissues and vegetables. Moreover, anthocyanins exhibit potential antioxidant capacity and can protect plants against biotic and abiotic stresses. In the present study, two transcription factor genes of the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway, DELILA (Del) and ROSEAL (Ros1), were cloned from snapdragon Antirrhinum majus and heterologously expressed in Brassica napus. Down-stream structural genes in the anthocyanins biosynthesis pathway were significantly up-regulated. Furthermore, the anthocyanin content in the transgenic plant leaves was increased nearly up to tenfold and the antioxidant activity in transgenic leaves was approximately enhanced up to three-fold. Our present study provides a novel approach to enhance B. napus antioxidant activity. Moreover, the present study supplies a potential source to produce anthocyanins from the tissues of transgenic Del/Ros1B. napus plant and yields a new insight into better understanding of the transcriptional regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis.