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Antisense-overexpression of the MsCOMT gene induces changes in lignin and total phenol contents in transgenic tobacco plants |
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| Authors: | Eun Soo Seong Ji Hye Yoo Jae Geun Lee Hee Young Kim In Seong Hwang Kweon Heo Jae Kwang Kim Jung Dae Lim Erik J Sacks Chang Yeon Yu |
| Institution: | 1. Bioherb Research Institute, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 200-701, South Korea 2. Department of Applied Plant Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 200-701, South Korea 3. National Academy of Agricultural Science, Rural Development Administration, Suwon, 441-707, South Korea 4. Department of Herbal Medicine Resource, Kangwon National University, Samcheok, South Korea 5. Department of Crop Sciences 1101 1GB, MC-195 1206 W. Gregory Dr. Urbana, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA |
| Abstract: | Initially, we isolated the caffeic acid O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene from Miscanthus sinensis (accession number HM062766.1). Next, we produced transgenic tobacco plants with down-regulated COMT gene expression to study its control of total phenol and lignin content and to perform morphological analysis. These transgenic plants were found to have reduced PAL and ascorbate peroxidases expression, which are related to the phenylpropanoid pathway and antioxidant activity. The MsCOMT-down-regulated plants had decreased total lignin in the leaves and stem compared with control plants. Reduced flavonol concentrations were confirmed in MsCOMT-down-regulated transgenic plants. We also observed a morphological difference, with reduced plant cell number in transgenic plants harboring antisense MsCOMT. The transgenic tobacco plants with down-regulated COMT gene expression demonstrate that COMT plays a crucial role related to controlling lignin and phenol content in plants. Also, COMT activity may be related to flavonoid production in the plant lignin pathway. |
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