51. Post-harvest regulated gene expression and splicing efficiency in storage roots of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.).
- Author
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Rotthues A, Kappler J, Lichtfuss A, Kloos DU, Stahl DJ, and Hehl R
- Subjects
- Alternative Splicing, Beta vulgaris physiology, Cloning, Molecular, DNA Primers, Genes, Plant, Nucleic Acid Hybridization, Plant Roots physiology, Polymerase Chain Reaction, RNA, Messenger genetics, RNA, Plant genetics, Seasons, Beta vulgaris genetics, Gene Expression Regulation, Plant, Plant Roots genetics
- Abstract
Sixteen post-harvest upregulated genes from sugar beet comprising five novel sequences were isolated by subtractive cloning. Transcription profiles covering a period of up to 49 days after harvest under controlled storage conditions and in field clamps are reported. Post-harvest induced genes are involved in wound response, pathogen defense, dehydration stress, and detoxification of reactive oxygen species. An early induction of a cationic peroxidase indicates a response to post-harvest damage. Wound response reactions may also involve genes required for cell division such as a regulator of chromatin condensation and a precursor of the growth stimulating peptide phytohormone phytosulfokine-alpha. Surprisingly, also three putative non-protein coding genes were isolated. Two of these genes show intron specific and storage temperature dependent splicing of a precursor mRNA. The temperature dependent splicing of an intron containing sugar beet mRNA is also maintained in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana. The storage induced genes are integrated into a model that proposes the response to several post-harvest stress conditions. Temperature regulated splicing may be a mechanism to sense seasonal temperature changes.
- Published
- 2008
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