A new member of the chalcone synthase (CHS) family in sugarcane

Abstract

Sequences from the sugarcane expressed sequence tag (SUCEST) database were analyzed based on their identities to genes encoding chalcone-synthase-like enzymes. The sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) chalcone-synthase (CHS, EC 2.3.1.74) protein sequence (gi|12229613) was used to search the SUCEST database for clusters of sequencing reads that were most similar to chalcone synthase. We found 121 reads with homology to sorghum chalcone synthase, which we were then able to sort into 14 clusters which themselves were divided into two groups (group 1 and group 2) based on the similarity of their deduced amino acid sequences. Clusters in group 1 were more similar to the sorghum enzyme than those in group 2, having the consensus sequence of the active site of chalcone and stilbene synthase. Analysis of gene expression (based on the number of reads from a specific library present in each group) indicated that most of the group 1 reads were from sugarcane flower and root libraries. Group 2 clusters were more similar to the amino acid sequence of an uncharacterized pathogen-induced protein (PI1, gi|9855801) from the S. bicolor expressed sequence tag (EST) database. The group 2 clusters sequences and PI1 proteins are 90% identical, having two amino acid changes at the chalcone and stilbene synthase consensi but conserving the cysteine residue at the active site. The PI1 EST has not been previously associated with chalcone synthase and has a different consensus sequence from the previously described chalcone synthase of sorghum. Most of the group 2 reads were from libraries prepared from sugarcane roots and plants infected with Herbaspirillum rubrisubalbicans and Gluconacetobacter diazotroficans. Our results indicate that we have identified a sugarcane chalcone synthase similar to the pathogen-induced PI1 protein found in the sorghum cDNA libraries, and it appears that both proteins represent new members of the chalcone and stilbene synthase super-family.

Identification of differentially expressed genes in developing cotton fibers (Gossypium hirsutum L) through differential display

“…The DET 7 was detected between 0-5 DPA and had homology with chalcone synthase (CHS). CHS (secondary metabolite) is a plant-specific polyketide synthase important for the biosynthesis of anti-microbial isoflavonoid phytoalexins, anthocyanin floral pigments and flavonoid inducers of Rhizobium nodulation genes (Contessotto et al 2001). The detection of CHS transcripts at early fiber development stage is in accordance with the reported tentative consensus sequences (TC) derived from ESTs of G. hirsutum ovules, GH_TM0 (Yang et al 2006).…”

Molecular dissection of novel anthocyanin transcripts HsCHS and HsF3H from the calyx tissue of Hibiscus sabdariffa L.

“…. This prediction was supported by the study of Contessotto et al (2001), where they found the same conserved motif in Sorghum bicolor (Fig. 2).…”

In silicio expression analysis of PKS genes isolated from Cannabis sativa L.

“…Families of PKS genes have been reported in many plants, such as Daucus carota L. ( Hirner and Seitz, 2000 ), Gerbera hydrida ( Helariutta et al , 1996 ), Glycine max ( Shimizu et al , 1999 ), Humulus lupulus ( Novak et al , 2006 ), Hypericum androsaemum ( Liu et al , 2003 ), Ipomoea purpurea ( Durbin et al , 2000 ), Lycopersicon esculentum ( O'Neill et al , 1990 ), Medicago sativa L. ( Junghans et al , 1993 ), Petunia hybrida ( Koes et al , 1989 ), Phaseolus vulgaris ( Ryder et al , 1987 ), Pinus sylvestris L. ( Preisig-Muller et al , 1999 ), Pisum sativum ( Harker et al , 1990 ), Psilotum nudum ( Yamazaki et al , 2001 ), Rheum palmatum ( Abe et al , 2005 ), Rubus idaeus ( Kumar and Ellis, 2003 ), Ruta graveolens ( Springob et al , 2000 ), Saccharum spp. ( Contessotto et al , 2001 ), Sorghum bicolor ( Lo et al , 2002 ), Vitis vinifera (Wiese et al ., 1994; Goto-Yamamoto et al , 2002 ), and Zingiber officinale ( Radhakrishnan and Soniya, 2009 ). Their expression is controlled differently and it has been suggested that PKSs have evolved by gene duplication and, subsequently, divergence by mutations, providing an adaptative differentiation to plants ( Tropf et al , 1994 ; Durbin et al , 2000 ; Lukacin et al , 2001 ).…”