Research Progress on the Biosynthesis of Monomeric and Polymeric Catechins in Camellia sinensis

LIU Yajun; WANG Peiqiang; JIANG Xiaolan; ZHUANG Juhua; GAO Liping; XIA Tao

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Journal of Tea Science ›› 2022, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (1) : 1-17.

Review

Research Progress on the Biosynthesis of Monomeric and Polymeric Catechins in Camellia sinensis

LIU Yajun^1,2, WANG Peiqiang³, JIANG Xiaolan¹, ZHUANG Juhua⁴, GAO Liping^1,2,*, XIA Tao^1,*

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Abstract

Catechin compounds, mainly including monomeric catechins and polymericcatechins, are the main components of tea polyphenols in Camellia sinensis and the decisive components of the "taste" of green tea. The synthesis and accumulation of tea catechin compounds have remarkable tissue- and organ- specificity. The leaves mainly biosynthesize monomeric catechins, and roots mainly accumulate polymeric catechins. The downstream enzymes of flavonoid metabolism pathway, leucoanthocyanidin reductase (LAR) and anthocyanin reductase (ANR) are the key enzymes determining the types of catechins. This paper mainly reviewed the research progress on the biosynthesis, accumulation, and transcriptional regulation of catechins in Camellia sinensis, with emphasis on the latest research progress in the function and transcriptional regulation of LAR, ANR and leucoanthocyanidin dioxygenase (LODX). Our views on the unsolved problems in catechin synthetic pathway were also proposed.

Key words

anthocyanin reductase / catechins / leucoanthocyanidin dioxygenase / leucoanthocyanidin reductase / proanthocyanidins

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LIU Yajun, WANG Peiqiang, JIANG Xiaolan, ZHUANG Juhua, GAO Liping, XIA Tao. Research Progress on the Biosynthesis of Monomeric and Polymeric Catechins in Camellia sinensis[J]. Journal of Tea Science. 2022, 42(1): 1-17

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