Project description:As a sister genus to Taxus, Pseudotaxus holds significant importance for studying the origin and evolution of the taxane biosynthesis pathway. However, the reference genome of P. chienii, the sole species of Pseudotaxus, is not yet available. We have completed a chromosome-level genome assembly of P. chienii, with a total length of 15.6 Gb. P. chienii possesses only a partial pathway for Taxol biosynthesis, which terminates before the enzyme taxane 2α-O-benzoyl transferase (TBT), a crucial enzyme responsible for the production of 10-deacetylbaccatin III. With the emergence of the Taxus genus, the limitation posed by TBT is overcome, allowing for the extension of the existing taxane biosynthesis pathway into a complete Taxol biosynthesis pathway. Protein structure analysis revealed that the structure of metal ion catalysis sites in taxadiene synthase (TS) is conserved across the Pseudotaxus and Taxus genera, providing potential sites for enhancing TS activity through enzyme engineering. This comparative genomic analysis contributes to our understanding of the origin and evolution of taxane biosynthesis within the Taxaceae family.
Project description:Salt responsive genes were identified in chinese willow (Salix matsudana) after the plants were treated with 100 mM NaCl. for 48 hours We used microarrays to identify genes responsible for combating salt stress. Those up-regulated during the NaCl treatment may protect the plants from damages caused by salt stress.
Project description:Salt responsive genes were identified in chinese willow (Salix matsudana) after the plants were treated with 100 mM NaCl. for 48 hours We used microarrays to identify genes responsible for combating salt stress. Those up-regulated during the NaCl treatment may protect the plants from damages caused by salt stress. 2 month-old S. matsudana plants which were treated with 100 mM NaCl and control plants were used for RNA extraction and hybridization on Affymetrix microarrays. We sought to obtain salt responsive genes that protect the plants from stress injury.Those differentially expressed genes identified by the microarray would help to understand the mechanism of S. matsudana reacting to salt stress.