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Characterization of promoter of EgPAL1, a novel PAL gene from the oil palm Elaeis guineensis Jacq.

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The oil palm EgPAL1 gene promoter and its regulatory region were functional as a promoter in the heterologous system of Arabidopsis according to the cis-acting elements present in that region. The promoter was developmentally regulated, vascular tissue specific and responsive to water stress agents.

Abstract

Phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL, EC 4.3.1.24) is the key enzyme of the phenylpropanoid pathway which plays important roles in plant development and adaptation. To date, there is no report on the study of PAL from oil palm (Elaeis guineensis), an economically important oil crop. In this study, the 5′ regulatory sequence of a highly divergent oil palm PAL gene (EgPAL1) was isolated and fused with GUS in Arabidopsis to create two transgenic plants carrying the minimal promoter with (2302 bp) and without its regulatory elements (139 bp). The regulatory sequence contained cis-acting elements known to be important for plant development and stress response including the AC-II element for lignin biosynthesis and several stress responsive elements. The promoter and its regulatory region were fully functional in Arabidopsis. Its activities were characterised by two common fundamental features of PAL which are responsive to plant internal developmental programme and external factors. The promoter was developmentally regulated in certain organs; highly active in young organs but less active or inactive in mature organs. The presence of the AC elements and global activity of the EgPAL1 promoter in all organs resembled the property of lignin-related genes. The existence of the MBS element and enhancement of the promoter activity by PEG reflected the behaviour of drought-responsive genes. Our findings provide a platform for evaluating oil palm gene promoters in the heterologous system of Arabidopsis and give insights into the activities of EgPAL1 promoter in oil palm.

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Abbreviations

EgPAL1 :

Elaeis guineensis PAL1

GUS:

β-glucuronidase

PAL:

Phenylalanine ammonia lyase

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded by Malaysian Palm Oil Board (Grant no.: 6366900). YCYL was supported by the MyPhD scholarship from Ministry of Education Malaysia. The authors would like to thank Prof. Dr. Ho Chai Ling for granting access to the research facilities in Molecular Biology Laboratory, UPM.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

    Chong Yu Lok Yusuf, Janna Ong Abdullah & Mohd Puad Abdullah

  2. Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

    Noor Azmi Shaharuddin

  3. Faculty of Plantation and Agrotechnology, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Kampus Jasin, 77300, Merlimau, Melaka, Malaysia

    Chong Yu Lok Yusuf

  4. Institute of Plantation Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

    Noor Azmi Shaharuddin

  5. Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), No. 6, Persiaran Institusi, Bandar Baru Bangi, 43000, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia

    Idris Abu Seman

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  1. Chong Yu Lok Yusuf
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  2. Janna Ong Abdullah
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Correspondence to Mohd Puad Abdullah.

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Communicated by Teodoro Cardi.

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Yusuf, C.Y.L., Abdullah, J.O., Shaharuddin, N.A. et al. Characterization of promoter of EgPAL1, a novel PAL gene from the oil palm Elaeis guineensis Jacq.. Plant Cell Rep 37, 265–278 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-017-2228-7

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