Transcription Factor CsDOF3 Mediates Light-Dependent Antagonistic Regulation of Theanine and Catechin Accumulation in Tea Plants.

CsDOF3 expression in Camellia sinensis increases across a 5000–15 000 lx light-intensity gradient and is linked to decreased theanine and increased catechins.

• Why it matters: Light intensity shapes tea secondary metabolites, but how opposing theanine and catechin accumulation are coordinated by light-responsive regulators is unclear.
• What they did: The study used expression profiling along the 5000–15 000 lx gradient, then tested CsDOF3 overexpression and virus-induced gene silencing, plus promoter binding and dual-luciferase assays.
• The result: CsDOF3 binds CsTSI and CsANS promoters and shows opposite transcriptional effects, with overexpression suppressing theanine biosynthesis and promoting catechin synthesis, while silencing reverses this.

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