Comparative Transcriptomic Analyses of Differentially Expressed Genes in Transgenic Melatonin Biosynthesis Ovine HIOMT Gene in Switchgrass.

ABSTRACT: Melatonin serves pleiotropic functions in prompting plant growth and resistance to various stresses. The accurate biosynthetic pathway of melatonin remains elusive in plant species, while the N-acetyltransferase and O-methyltransferase were considered to be the last two key enzymes during its biosynthesis. To investigate the biosynthesis and metabolic pathway of melatonin in plants, the RNA-seq profile of overexpression of the ovine HIOMT was analyzed and compared with the previous transcriptome of transgenic oAANAT gene in switchgrass, a model plant for cellulosic ethanol production. A total of 946, 405, and 807 differentially expressed unigenes were observed in AANAT vs. control, HIOMT vs. control, and AANAT vs. HIOMT, respectively. Two hundred and seventy-five upregulated and 130 downregulated unigenes were detected in transgenic oHIOMT line comparing with control, including the significantly upregulated (F-box/kelch-repeat protein, zinc finger BED domain-containing protein-3) genes, which were potentially correlated with enhanced phenotypes of shoot, stem and root growth in transgenic oHIOMT switchgrass. Several stress resistant related genes (SPX domain-containing membrane protein, copper transporter 1, late blight resistance protein homolog R1A-6 OS etc.) were specifically and significantly upregulated in transgenic oHIOMT only, while metabolism-related genes (phenylalanine-4-hydroxylase, tyrosine decarboxylase 1, protein disulfide-isomerase and galactinol synthase 2 etc.) were significantly upregulated in transgenic oAANAT only. These results provide new sights into the biosynthetic and physiological functional networks of melatonin in plants.

SUBMITTER: Yuan S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5099686 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature