Genomic structure,QTL mapping,and molecular markers of lipase genes responsible for palm oil acidity in the oil palm (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Elaeis guineensis</Emphasis> Jacq.)

The degradation of triglycerides in oil palm fruit due to an endogenous lipase in the pulp is the main reason for acidification of palm oil, which causes major economic losses and is currently mainly associated with the FLL1 gene. We designed this study to identify all the major genes controlling differences in acidity and lipase activity in the oil palm fruit mesocarp and determine a molecular markers kit to allow marker-assisted selection of commercial varieties with low acidity. Not only one gene (FLL1) but three closely linked genes including FLL1 were found and characterized in LM2T_EgCIR184O12c, a bacterial artificial chromosome sequence of 231 kb. Intra-gene PCR-based markers were designed for these genes. A QTL gene co-localization analysis for oil acidity (percentage of fatty acids released) was performed on two mapping populations. It evidenced a single major QTL at our lipase gene loci, explaining 84 to 92% of phenotypic variation, and validating the main genetic control of palm oil acidification by FLL1 and/or by the two new lipase genes. The three lipase genes had high homology to demonstrated triacylglycerol lipases. While FLL1 shows the highest expression levels, the two other genes may also contribute to oil acidity. Our molecular markers of lipase genes and the associated major QTL is an important step towards marker-assisted selection of commercial varieties with low acidity.     

Differential Metabolite Profiles during Fruit Development in High-Yielding Oil Palm Mesocarp

To better understand lipid biosynthesis in oil palm mesocarp, in particular the differences in gene regulation leading to and including de novo fatty acid biosynthesis, a multi-platform metabolomics technology was used to profile mesocarp metabolites during six critical stages of fruit development in comparatively high- and low-yielding oil palm populations. Significantly higher amino acid levels preceding lipid biosynthesis and nucleosides during lipid biosynthesis were observed in a higher yielding commercial palm population. Levels of metabolites involved in glycolysis revealed interesting divergence of flux towards glycerol-3-phosphate, while carbon utilization differences in the TCA cycle were proven by an increase in malic acid/citric acid ratio. Apart from insights into the regulation of enhanced lipid production in oil palm, these results provide potentially useful metabolite yield markers and genes of interest for use in breeding programmes.     

Effects of polyculture and monoculture farming in oil palm smallholdings on tropical fruit‐feeding butterfly diversity

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Mapping of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for oil yield using SSRs and gene-based markers in African oil palm (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Elaeis guineensis</Emphasis> Jacq.)

The identification of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) based on anchor markers, especially candidate genes that control a trait of interest, has been noted to increase the power of QTL detection. Since these markers can be scored as co-dominant data, they are also valuable for comparing and integrating the QTL linkage maps from diverse mapping populations. To estimate the position and effects of QTLs linked to oil yield traits in African oil palm, co-dominant microsatellites (SSR) and candidate gene-based sequence polymorphisms were applied to construct a linkage map for a progeny showing large differences in oil yield components. The progeny was genotyped for 97 SSR markers, 93 gene-linked markers, and 12 non-gene-linked SNP markers. From these, 190 segregating loci could be arranged into 31 linkage groups while 12 markers remained unmapped. Using the single marker linkage, interval mapping and multiple QTL methods, 16 putative QTLs on seven linkage groups affecting important oil yield related traits such as fresh fruit bunch yield (FFB), ratio of oil per fruit (OF), oil per bunch (OB), fruit per bunch (FB) and wet mesocarp per fruit (WMF) could be identified in the segregating population with estimated values for explained variance ranging from 12.4 % to 54.5 %. Markers designed from some candidate genes involved in lipid biosynthesis were found to be mapped near significant QTLs for various economic yield traits. Associations between QTLs and potential candidate genes are discussed.     

Identification and characterization of differential gene expression in the mesocarp and kernel of oil palm nuts using suppression subtractive hybridization

Suppression subtracted hybridization (SSH) and dot blotting were used to identify differential gene expression in the mesocarp and kernel of oil palm nuts. The different types of nut tissue show differences in fatty acid anabolism and the synthesis of other important compounds. In total, 302 clones from forward SSH libraries and 238 clones from reverse SSH libraries were identified following differential screening, respectively. Among these, 120 clones from the forward SSH library and 81 clones from the reverse SSH library, showed tenfold or more differential expression levels, and were sequenced. Sequence analysis revealed that 76 clones (28 from the forward SSH library and 48 from the reverse SSH library) represent non-redundant cDNA inserts. The differential expression of 39 subset genes in the two different tissues was further confirmed by RT-PCR analysis. Functionally annotated blasting against the GenBank non-redundant protein database classified all 76 candidate genes into six categories, according to their putative functions. Interestingly, our results show that a group of significantly differentially expressed genes are involved in processes associated with oil palm nut maturation, such as the synthesis of medium-chain saturated fatty acids and phytic acid, nut development, and stress/defense responses. This study describes some relationships between gene expression and metabolic pathways in mature oil palm nuts, and contributes to our understanding of oil palm nut ESTs.     

油棕（Elaeis guineensis）中果皮发育过程中miRNA的表达动态分析

以CTAB法提取油棕（Elaeis guineensis）中果皮5个不同发育时期（G1～G5）的小RNA。从前期研究获得的油棕小RNA测序数据库中筛选12个候选miRNA,实时荧光定量PCR法（qRT-PCR）检测其在果实发育过程中的表达量变化,并进一步对显著差异表达的miRNA进行靶基因预测。结果表明：中果皮5个不同发育时期小RNA的OD260/OD280比值在1.7～2.0之间;浓度分别是289、364、476、213、390 ng/μL;qRT-PCR检测结果显示,12个候选miRNA在5个发育时期均显著性差异表达,特别是在中果皮发育第4个时期（G4）和第5个时期（G5）表达量极显著增高,其中miR395和miR156在第4个时期表达量最高;miR395和miR528在发育第5时期表达量最高;靶基因预测结果显示差异表达的部分miRNA,其靶基因可能参与了脂肪酸代谢通路,如磷脂酸磷酸脂酶和磷脂酶D。本研究筛选的与脂肪酸代谢相关的miRNA为今后油棕脂肪酸代谢调控通路研究提供了可能的线索。     

Assaying lipase activity from oil palm fruit (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) mesocarp.

The mesocarp of mature oil palm fruit undergoes intensive triglycerides hydrolysis upon abscission and bruising. This generates such a high amount of free fatty acids that the oil might become unfit for human consumption without appropriate refining. The lipase (EC 3.1.1.3) involved in the breakdown of the oil is not stable after homogenization of the tissue in aqueous buffers. In this study, we have devised a solvent-based procedure that allowed us to obtain fractions with stable lipase activity. Using these fractions, we have determined the optimal conditions for assaying mesocarp lipase activity. The activity was highest at a temperature of 35 degrees C and a pH of 9. The lipase was found to be strictly calcium dependent. The specific activity of the lipase measured in optimal conditions was found to be 33 mumol fatty acids released min(-1) mg(-1) protein using olive oil as substrate. The mesocarp contains about 190 U of lipase g(-1) fresh weight. This activity was found to be inhibited by the lipase inhibitor tetrahydrolipstatin (THL), suggesting that the lipase is a serine hydrolase.