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Expression profiles of genes coding for oil biosynthesis in developing Tung seeds
Author(s) -
Cao Heping,
Shockey Jay M.,
Klasson Kjell T.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.26.1_supplement.576.9
Subject(s) - gene , biosynthesis , biology , gene expression , reference genes , microbiology and biotechnology , botany , genetics
Understanding plant oil biosynthesis will help to create new oilseed crops with value‐added properties. Our project focuses on engineering oilseed crops to produce industrial oils, such as tung (Vernicia fordii) oil, which are rich in novel fatty acids that impart valuable properties to their respective oils. We have identified a number of genes for tung oil biosynthesis, but less is known about the expression patterns of the genes. In this study, qPCR approach was used to explore the expression profiles of > 40 genes potentially related to oil biosynthesis in developing tung seeds. Total RNAs were extracted from 11 stages of three tung trees. RNA concentrations and integrity were determined before the cDNAs were synthesized from the total RNAs. qPCR transcript profiling during tung seed development revealed that most genes studied fell into one of two classes. The first set of genes were significantly upregulated during the middle to late stages of seed development; whereas the second set of genes were transcribed at higher levels in younger seeds, and declined as development progressed. These results suggest that genes in the first group potentially play important roles in tung oil biosynthesis and that those in the second group are probably more important in the synthesis of lipids other than triacylglycerols. This study should provide useful information for selecting targets for oil improvement in transgenic plants.