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Pinoresinol–lariciresinol reductase gene expression and secoisolariciresinol diglucoside accumulation in developing flax (Linum usitatissimum) seeds

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Abstract

The transcription activity of the pinoresinol–lariciresinol reductase (PLR) gene of Linum usitatissimum (so-called LuPLR), a key gene in lignan synthesis, was studied by RT-PCR and promoter–reporter transgenesis. The promoter was found to drive transcription of a GUSint reporter gene in the seed coats during the flax seed development. This fitted well with the tissue localization monitored by semi-quantitative RT-PCR of LuPLR expression. Accumulation of the main flax lignan secoisolariciresinol diglucoside was coherent with LuPLR expression during seed development. This three-way approach demonstrated that the LuPLR gene is expressed in the seed coat of flax seeds, and that the synthesis of PLR enzyme occurs where flax main lignan is found stored in mature seeds, confirming its involvement in SDG synthesis.

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Abbreviations

GUS:

β-Glucuronidase

HMG:

Hydroxyl methylglutaryl

PLR:

Pinoresinol–lariciresinol reductase

RT-PCR:

Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction

SDG:

Secoisolariciresinol diglucoside

X-Gluc:

5-Bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-β-d-glucuronic acid

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Acknowledgments

We wish to thank J.P. Trouvé (Coopérative Terre de Lin) for the gift of seeds, Institut Technique du Lin for access to the experimental fields, and B. van Droogenbroeck (Ghent University) for seed pictures. Conseil Général d’Eure et Loir, Adittes and Région Centre funded this work. Part of the work was supported by the British Council’s and Alliance Programme (PN 04.078).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Biologie des Ligneux et des Grandes Cultures, UPRES EA 1207, Antenne Scientifique Universitaire de Chartres, 21 rue de Loigny la Bataille, 28000, Chartres, France

    C. Hano, I. Martin, B. Legrand, F. Lamblin & E. Lainé

  2. Laboratoire de Phytotechnologie et Génomique Fonctionnelle des Plantes, UPRES EA 3900, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, 1 rue des Louvels, 80037, Amiens cedex 01, France

    O. Fliniaux, L. Gutierrez & F. Mesnard

  3. Leicester School of Pharmacy—Natural Products Research, De Montfort University, The Gateway, Leicester, LE1 9BH, UK

    R. R. J. Arroo

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  1. C. Hano
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  2. I. Martin
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  3. O. Fliniaux
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  4. B. Legrand
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  7. F. Mesnard
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  8. F. Lamblin
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  9. E. Lainé
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Correspondence to E. Lainé.

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Hano, C., Martin, I., Fliniaux, O. et al. Pinoresinol–lariciresinol reductase gene expression and secoisolariciresinol diglucoside accumulation in developing flax (Linum usitatissimum) seeds. Planta 224, 1291–1301 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-006-0308-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-006-0308-y

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