Transcriptional profiling by DDRT-PCR analysis reveals gene expression during seed development in Carya cathayensis Sarg

• Published in: Plant physiology and biochemistry Vol. 91; pp. 28 - 35
• Main Authors: Huang, You-Jun, Zhou, Qin, Huang, Jian-Qin, Zeng, Yan-Ru, Wang, Zheng-Jia, Zhang, Qi-Xiang, Zhu, Yi-Hang, Shen, Chen, Zheng, Bing-Song
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: France Elsevier Masson SAS 01.06.2015
• Subjects: Carbon - metabolism; Carya - genetics; Differential mRNA display; DNA, Complementary - metabolism; Down-Regulation; Fatty acid synthesis; Fatty Acids - metabolism; Gene differential expression; Gene Expression Profiling; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Hickory; Polymerase Chain Reaction - methods; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; RNA, Plant - genetics; Seeds - genetics; Transcription, Genetic; TUB; TFs; NAD1; SUCLG; MUFA; FAD; GO; VLPUFAs; DDRT-PCR; BAP; DAP; C4H; FAH12; SAD; Differential mRNA display; Gene differential expression; MES9; TDFs; FA; TAG; PUFAs; Hickory; Fatty acid synthesis
• ISSN: 0981-9428; 1873-2690
• DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2015.03.008

Hickory (Carya cathayensis Sarg.) seed has one of the highest oil content and is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), which kernel is helpful to human health, particularly to human brain function. A better elucidation of lipid accumulation mechanism would help to improve hickory production and seed quality. DDRT-PCR analysis was used to examine gene expression in hickory at thirteen time points during seed development process. A total of 67 unique genes involved in seed development were obtained, and those expression patterns were further confirmed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and real time RT-PCR analysis. Of them, the genes with known functions were involved in signal transduction, amino acid metabolism, nuclear metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, protein metabolism, carbon metabolism, secondary metabolism, oxidation of fatty acids and stress response, suggesting that hickory underwent a complex metabolism process in seed development. Furthermore, 6 genes related to fatty acid synthesis were explored, and their functions in seed development process were further discussed. The data obtained here would provide the first clues for guiding further functional studies of fatty acid synthesis in hickory. •Batches of unique genes involved in seed development were obtained by DDRT PCR.•Seed development in hickory underwent complex metabolisms, besides lipid synthesis.•Six genes related to lipid synthesis in seed development were further discussed.