Computational identification of Chinese cabbage anthocyaninspecific genes

Therefore, 3,895 candidate genes related to anthocyanin biosynthesis in Chinese cabbage were identified using a 300K Brassica rapa microarray analysis. Gene expression during six stages of leaf developmental stages were examined in FC (green leaf) and FA(red leaf) Chinese cabbage cultivars. The 317 transcription factor genes found to be associated with anthocyanin were classified into 11 functional groups. The ratio of expression levels of each transcription factor between the two cultivars was examined during the six leaf developmental stages. A total of 14 genes were found to be expressed in all developmental stages commonly. Among these genes, 10 unknown and hypothetical genes were differentially revealed to be expressed between the two cultivars at each developmental stage, as determined by microarray analysis, and were verified by RT-PCR validation. These genes most likely play regulatory roles in either anthocyanin production or metabolism during flavonoid biosynthesis. While these genes require further validation and characterization, our results illustrate the potential usefulness of this multi-layered screening method using Chinese cabbage ( Brassica rapa ) microarrays.