@Article{phyton.2026.083772,
AUTHOR = {Xuebing Zhu, Yongqiang Jiang, Wei Li, Lihui Wang, Xuemei Sun},
TITLE = {Functional Characterization of LsMYB1, a Positive Regulator of Anthocyanin Biosynthesis in Lettuce},
JOURNAL = {Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany},
VOLUME = {},
YEAR = {},
NUMBER = {},
PAGES = {{pages}},
URL = {http://www.techscience.com/phyton/online/detail/27372},
ISSN = {1851-5657},
ABSTRACT = {Although transcriptional regulators of anthocyanin biosynthesis have been studied in many crops, the regulatory network controlling the purple leaf trait in lettuce (<i>Lactuca sativa</i> L.) remains incompletely understood. Our previous transcriptome analysis identified <i>LsMYB1</i>. This study further carried out the cloning and structural feature analysis of the <i>LsMYB1</i> gene, and systematically verified its function using the tobacco heterologous overexpression system and CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology. Sequence analysis revealed a structural difference between the two alleles: the <i>LsMYB1</i> allele in the purplecultivar contains two introns and three exons, whereas the allele in the greencultivar comprises only a single exon. Overexpression of the purple-associated <i>LsMYB1</i> allele in tobacco induced anthocyanin accumulation and purple pigmentation. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutagenesis of <i>LsMYB1</i> in lettuce resulted in reduced anthocyanin content and loss of purple color in most leaf areas. These results confirmsthat LsMYB1 is a regulator of anthocyanin biosynthesis in leaf lettuce. This study also highlights the potential role of allelic structural variation in trait diversification and provides a candidate gene for breeding lettuce with enhanced anthocyanin content.},
DOI = {10.32604/phyton.2026.083772}
}