Anthocyanins Encyclopedia Article

Anthocyanins

The following sections of this BookRags Literature Study Guide is offprint from Gale's For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, Compare & Contrast, What Do I Read Next?, For Further Study, and Sources.

(c)1998-2002; (c)2002 by Gale. Gale is an imprint of The Gale Group, Inc., a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Gale and Design and Thomson Learning are trademarks used herein under license.

The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction: "Social Concerns", "Thematic Overview", "Techniques", "Literary Precedents", "Key Questions", "Related Titles", "Adaptations", "Related Web Sites". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.

The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults: "About the Author", "Overview", "Setting", "Literary Qualities", "Social Sensitivity", "Topics for Discussion", "Ideas for Reports and Papers". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.

All other sections in this Literature Study Guide are owned and copyrighted by BookRags, Inc.

Anthocyanins

Anthocyanins are a class of molecules pervasive in plants that are responsible for the showy bright purple, red, and blue colors of flowers and variegated leaves. Anthocyanins are located in the vacuoles of cells, and different genes control the particular shades of colors. Aside from their coloration, anthocyanin molecules are also active in plant defense mechanisms against insect and fungal attacks and in the recognition of nitrogen-fixing bacteria by leguminous plants (providing a molecule that attracts the bacteria). Approximately twenty genes are involved in the formation of the anthocyanin molecule with various amendments, such as hydroxyl groups or glucose alterations, to vary the coloration and cause the molecule to function in a particular way. In maize, there are two major types of genes, regulatory and structural, that control the formation of the anthocyanin molecule used to give the corn kernel its color. The variegated Indian corn is caused by an interruption of the color formation by an insert in one of these genes, thus releasing the gene to form color.

Structure of anthocyanin. Structure of anthocyanin.

See Also

Flavonoids; Nitrogen Fixation; Pigments.