Structural genes and enzymes

The identification and isolation of genes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis has benefited from the fact that many of the flavonoids are colored compounds. Mutant phenotypes are therefore often easily identifiable based on variation in color. In Arabidopsis many of the genes involved in flavonoid bioysnthesis have been uncovered based on the change in seed coat (testa) color. Wild-type Arabidopsis seeds have a brown color, and mutations in flavonoid biosynthetic genes result in yellow or pale brown color because the underlying cotyledons are visible. These mutants are referred to as 

Maize mutants with altered flavonoid metabolism can also be identified based on variation in color, either of the seeds, the vegetative parts of the plant, or the floral structures (anthers and silks). Petunia (Petunia hybrida) and snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) have also been widely used as model species for the elucidation of flavonoid biosynthesis (reviewed by Winkel-Shirley, 2001). In the description of genes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis presented in this section, the emphasis will be on maize and Arabidopsis. 

Condensed tannins (3.68) arise from polymerization of flavonoids. Polymerization starts with the condensation of a 2,3-cm-flavonol residue 

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