ibclogo XVI International Botanical Congess


Abstract Number: 3418
Poster No. = 2187


CHARACTERIZATION OF GENES AND PROTEINS EXPRESSED IN DEVELOPING TUNG SEEDS DURING SYNTHESIS OF STORAGE OIL


J. Dyer1, F. Tang2, D. Chapital1, H. Shepherd1, A. Lax1, D. Shih2, and A. Pepperman1 1USDA-ARS, Southern Regional Res Cntr, New Orleans, LA, 2Dept of Biol Sci, Louisiana State U, Baton Rouge, LA


Tung oil contains approximately 80% eleostearic acid. The conjugated bond system of eleostearic acid promotes polymerization and formation of a hard coating. We have screened a seed cDNA library to identify genes expressed during tung oil biosynthesis. Two desaturases and a glutaredoxin gene have been identified. A second strategy involves characterization of the low-density microsomal fraction to identify protein components associated with tung oil. Three proteins were found whose abundance temporally correlated with synthesis of tung oil. These proteins were similar to a subtilisin- like protease, sucrose-binding protein, and bark-type storage protein.


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