Molecular Cloning and Characterization of the Gene Encoding Cinnamyl Alcohol Dehydrogenase in Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer

• Published in: Hanʼguk Yakyong Changmul Hakhoe chi Vol. 17; no. 4
• Main Authors: Pulla, Rama Krishna, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, Republic of Korea, Shim, J.S., Kyung Hee University, Yongin, Republic of Korea, Kim, Y.J., Kyung Hee University, Yongin, Republic of Korea, Jeong, D.Y., Kyung Hee University, Yongin, Republic of Korea, In, J.G., Kyung Hee University, Yongin, Republic of Korea, Lee, B.S., Kyung Hee University, Yongin, Republic of Korea, Yang, D.C., Kyung Hee University, Yongin, Republic of Korea
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.08.2009
• Subjects: Cinnamyl Alcohol Dehydrogenase; ESTRES; PANAX PSEUDOGINSENG; Salicylic Acid; Semi-quantitative RT-PCR; STRESS
• ISSN: 1225-9306

Cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD, EC 1.1.1.95), catalyzes the reduction of hydroxycinnamaldehydes to give hydroxycinnamyl alcohols, or "monolignols," the monomeric precursors of lignin. Lignins are important components of cell walls and lignified secondary cell walls play crucial roles in long distance transport of water and nutrients during plant growth and development and in plant defense against biotic and abiotic stresses. Here a cDNA clone containing a CAD gene, named as PgCAD, was isolated from a commercial medicinal plant Panax ginseng. PgCAD is predicted to encode a precursor protein of 177 amino acid residues, and its sequence shares high homology with a number of other plant CADS. The expression of PgCAD in adventitious roots and hairy roots of P. ginseng was analyzed using reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR under various abiotic stresses such as salt, salicylic acid, wounding and chilling treatment that triggered a significant induction of PgCAD at different time points within 2-48 h post-treatment. This study revealed that PgCAD may help the plants to survive against various abiotic stresses.