Enhanced Accumulation of High-Value Acylated Anthocyanins and Improved Growth in Lemna turionifera with SpANS Overexpression for Functional Food Ingredients
Description
Anthocyanins are valuable natural pigments and bioactive compounds, but their large-scale production is limited by inefficient plant extraction and low microbial productivity. Spirodela polyrhiza accumulates abundant anthocyanins but lacks an efficient transformation system, whereas Lemna turionifera combines better palatability with a well-established transformation platform. Here, six L. turionifera lines overexpressing SpANS were generated. These lines showed marked phenotypic changes and up to a tenfold increase in anthocyanin accumulation relative to the wild type. RNA-seq indicated that SpANS overexpression may activate MAPK signaling and coordinate hormone signaling, photosynthesis, and carbon and nitrogen metabolism, thereby promoting both growth and secondary metabolism. Targeted metabolomics revealed that SpANS overexpression enhanced anthocyanin accumulation in L. turionifera, particularly promoting the biosynthesis of high-value acylated anthocyanins. These findings clarify the regulatory network underlying anthocyanin biosynthesis in L. turionifera and support its value-added application in functional food development.