Canadian Forest Service Publications
Regulation of the beta-hydroxyacyl ACP dehydratase gene of Picea mariana by alternative splicing. 2007. Tai, H.; Williams, M; Iyengar, A.; Yeates, J.; Beardmore, T. Plant Cell Reports 26: 105-113.
Year: 2007
Issued by: Atlantic Forestry Centre
Catalog ID: 29195
Language: English
Availability: Order paper copy (free)
Abstract
The gene for beta-hydroxyacyl ACP dehydratase, a de novo fatty acid biosynthetic enzyme, was cloned from Picea mariana (black spruce) and consists of five exons and four introns. The first intron of the beta-hydroxyacyl ACP dehydratase mRNA is alternatively spliced. Retention of intron 1 in splice variants results in truncation of the beta-hydroyacyl ACP dehydratase ORF at a premature termination codon. In addition, splicing of intron 1 was found to be associated with cold temperature. mRNAs retaining intron 1 increase with seed imbibition at 22 C but not 4 C, whereas, splicing of intron 1 increases in winter weeks with temperatures below freezing. These results provide evidence that alternative splicing may also contribute to regulation of lipid biosynthesis in Picea mariana.