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GCTTCA as a novel motif for regulating mesocarp-specific expression of the oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) stearoyl-ACP desaturase gene

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Abstract

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TAAAAT and a novel motif, GCTTCA found in the oil palm stearoyl-ACP desaturase (SAD1) promoter are involved in regulating mesocarp-specific expression.

Abstract

Two key fatty acid biosynthetic genes, stearoyl-ACP desaturase (SAD1), and acyl-carrier protein (ACP3) in Elaeis guineensis (oil palm) showed high level of expression during the period of oil synthesis in the mesocarp [12–19 weeks after anthesis (w.a.a.)] and kernel (12–15 w.a.a.). Both genes are expressed in spear leaves at much lower levels and the expression increased by 1.5-fold to 2.5-fold following treatments with ethylene and abscisic acid (ABA). Both SAD1 and ACP3 promoters contain phytohormone-responsive, light-responsive, abiotic factors/wounding-responsive, endosperm specificity and fruit maturation/ripening regulatory motifs. The activities of the full length and six 5′ deletion fragments of the SAD1 promoter were analyzed in transiently transformed oil palm tissues by quantitative β-glucuronidase (GUS) fluorometric assay. The highest SAD1 promoter activity was observed in the mesocarp followed by kernel and the least in the leaves. GUS activity in the D3 deletion construct (− 486 to + 108) was the highest, while the D2 (− 535 to + 108) gave the lowest suggesting the presence of negative cis-acting regulatory element(s) in the deleted − 535 to − 486 (49 bp). It was found that the 49-bp region binds to the nuclear protein extract from mesocarp but not from leaves in electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). Further fine-tuned analysis of this 49-bp region using truncated DNA led to the identification of GCTTCA as a novel motif in the SAD1 promoter. Interestingly, another known fruit ripening-related motif, LECPLEACS2 (TAAAAT) was found to be required for effective binding of the novel motif to the mesocarp nuclear protein extract.

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The work by Hanifiah was supported by the Grant given by the United Malacca Plantation Berhad.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agriculture Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

    Farah Hanan Abu Hanifiah, Siti Nor Akmar Abdullah, Ashida Othman, Halimi Mohd Saud & Hasnul Abdul Hakim Hasnulhadi

  2. Laboratory of Science and Technology, Institute of Plantation Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

    Siti Nor Akmar Abdullah, Noor Azmi Shaharuddin & Umaiyal Munusamy

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

    Noor Azmi Shaharuddin

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  1. Farah Hanan Abu Hanifiah
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  2. Siti Nor Akmar Abdullah
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  3. Ashida Othman
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  4. Noor Azmi Shaharuddin
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Communicated by Kan Wang.

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Hanifiah, F.H.A., Abdullah, S., Othman, A. et al. GCTTCA as a novel motif for regulating mesocarp-specific expression of the oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) stearoyl-ACP desaturase gene. Plant Cell Rep 37, 1127–1143 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-018-2300-y

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