Correlation between squalene synthase promoter and WRKY transcription factor in Camellia oleifera. Issue 1 (2nd January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yang, Rui; Yan, Yadan; Zeng, Yanling; Jin, Songjia; Jiang, Qin; Yu, Lin; Lai, Ranxia
• Is Part Of: Journal of horticultural science & biotechnology. Volume 96:Issue 1(2021)
• Page Start: 34
• Page End: 43
• Publication Date: 2021-01-02
• Subjects: Camellia oleifera -- WRKY transcription factor -- bioinformatics -- cis-acting element -- squalene -- squalene synthase gene promoter; Horticulture -- Periodicals; Plant biotechnology -- Periodicals; Biotechnology -- Periodicals; Biotechnology; Horticulture; Plant biotechnology; Periodicals; 635.05
• DOI: 10.1080/14620316.2020.1785959
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1462-0316

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Tea oil obtained from Camellia oleifera is a high-quality vegetable oil rich in squalene, a triterpenoid bioactive substance with several demonstrated health benefits. WRKY transcription factors in C. oleifera play essential roles in a wide range of physiological processes. To further develop C. oleifera as a functional material with genetic improvement, we constructed a tea oil seed transcriptome database and screened out the C.oleifera WRKY genes ( CoWRKY ) to determine their relation with squalene anabolism. Forty-one CoWRKY transcription factors were obtained, including five showing a potential association with squalene metabolism and regulating the expression of the squalene synthase gene ( CoSQS ). Through bioinformatics analysis of the CoSQS promoter, it was predicted that W-box components that may bind to CoWRKY were present at the – 293 bp position. Real-time polymerase chain reaction showed a significant positive correlation between the expression levels of the CoWRKY1 and CoSQS genes, further indicating their interaction, which was confirmed via a yeast one-hybrid assay. Overall, these results suggest that the CoWRKY1 transcription factor may bind to the W-box cis-acting element of the CoSQS promoter to positively regulate the synthesis of squalene in C. oleifera, offering new strategies for engineering strains with production of oil highly enriched in squalene.