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Molecular Cloning of Three UDP-Glucuronate Decarboxylase Genes That Are Preferentially Expressed In Gossypium Fibers From Elongation to Secondary Cell Wall Synthesis

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Abstract

UDP-xylose (UDP-Xyl) is a nucleotide sugar used as substrate for producing non-cellulose materials, e.g., hemicellulose and pectic polysaccharide, in the fibers of cotton (Gossypium). Its biosynthesis is catalyzed from UDP-glucuronic acid (UDP-GlcA) by UDP-glucuronate decarboxylase (UXS). Here, we first cloned GhUXS1 in Gossypium hirsutum and Gossypium barbadense based on a transcript-derived fragment that originated from our cDNA–AFLP transcriptome profiling in cotton. GhUXS2 and GhUXS3 were also isolated via homology-based cloning. GhUXS nucleotide sequences were identical between the two species, and the deduced amino acid residues had the conserved motif of the UXS family, i.e., GxxGxxG, Ser residues, and YxxxK. GhUXS1 was expressed in Escherichia coli and generated UXS activity that converted UDP-GlcA to UDP-Xyl. Semiquantitative RT-PCR results showed that GhUXSs transcripts were preferentially expressed during fiber development, from elongation through the stage of secondary cell wall synthesis. Although at the same number of days post-anthesis they were more abundant in G. hirsutum, expression was sustained for a longer period in G. barbadense. These different patterns of expression may affect quality and partially explain why the latter species has better fiber strength.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2010CB126000), the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (Grant No. 2006AA100105), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 30871561), and funding for a transgenic research project from the Ministry of Agriculture of China (Grant No. 2008ZX08009-003). The authors are grateful to the editing service of Dr. Priscilla Light.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. North China Key Laboratory for Crop Germplasm Resources of Education Ministry, Agricultural University of Hebei, Baoding, 071001, People’s Republic of China

    Yuxin Pan, Xingfen Wang, Hengwei Liu, Guiyin Zhang & Zhiying Ma

  2. Hebei Polytechnic University, Tangshan, 063009, People’s Republic of China

    Yuxin Pan

  3. College of Agronomy, Agricultural University of Hebei, No. 289 Lingyusi Street, Baoding, 071001, Hebei, People’s Republic of China

    Zhiying Ma

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  1. Yuxin Pan
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Correspondence to Zhiying Ma.

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Pan, Y., Wang, X., Liu, H. et al. Molecular Cloning of Three UDP-Glucuronate Decarboxylase Genes That Are Preferentially Expressed In Gossypium Fibers From Elongation to Secondary Cell Wall Synthesis. J. Plant Biol. 53, 367–373 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12374-010-9124-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12374-010-9124-9

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