开发茶叶多酚类生物化学改良途径的遗传控制研究

茶叶的特征性成分是茶多酚、类黄酮衍生物和咖啡因,茶多酚的基本组成是类黄酮衍生化合物的次生代谢产物——儿茶素;儿茶素与其它类黄酮化合物的主要生物合成途径享有共性,因而具有相似的合成机制。多种植物的广泛研究表明,该生物合成途径受到决定主要产物的一系列结构和调控基因的严格控制。欲在茶树遗传改良产生最大价值,必须了解茶多酚合成途径的生物化学、分子和遗传控制。本文综述了儿茶素合成过程中类黄酮化合物合成途径和关键基因的最新研究结果,并列举了该途径的知识潜力及其应用。

Genetic Control Studies to Exploit Flavonoids Synthesis Pathway in Tea Biochemical Improvement

The main characteristic components in tea are the tea polyphenols; flavonoids derivatives and caffeine. The basic tea polyphenols are secondary metabolites among the flavonoids group of compounds that accumulate in high concentration in the young tender leaves of tea. The catechins share the major part of the biosynthetic pathway with other derivative flavonoids products, hence similar synthesis mechanisms. The widely studied pathway in several plant species is tightly controlled by a series of structural and regulatory genes determining the main products of the pathway. Understanding the biochemical, molecular and genetic control of tea polyphenols synthesis pathway is necessary in order to derive maximum value from the tea genetic improvement process. The pathway and critical genes in the flavonoids synthesis leading to the synthesis of tea catechins are discussed. Potential value for knowledge of the pathway in tea and its application is enumerated.