Abstract: Anthocyanins are one of the main determinants of flower colors. The biosynthesis pathway of anthocyanins is one of the most extensively studied plant secondary metabolism. By the catalyzed of F3H, F3'H and F3'5'H, the biosynthesis of anthocyanins branched three pathway to form pelargonidin （orange to brick red）, cyanidin (pink to red) and delphinidin (purple to blue) separately. DFR, F3'H and F3'5'H are the most important genes for introducing new metabolic branches by genetic transformation to plants that lack some kinds of flower pigments. The research on biosynthesis of anthocyanins has been focused on the transcriptional regulation of structural genes in latest years. The transcriptional factors involved in biosynthesis of anthocyanins mainly include two kinds of protein families-bHLH and R2R3-MYB. The basic model of transcriptional regulation of biosynthesis of anthocyanins, including the interaction between bHLH and R2R3-MYB factors and the recognizing and binding of these factors to the cis-elements of structural genes, has been set up. Additionally, the study on the WD40s and phytochromes that located upstream of bHLH and R2R3-MYB factors in the transcriptional regulation system originates the research of the whole signal pathway from the stimulation of environmental factors to biosynthesis of anthocyanins.

Key words: anthocyanidin, biosynthesis, transcription regulation