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

• Main Authors: Abu Hanifiah, Farah Hanan, Abdullah, Siti Nor Akmar, Othman, Ashida, Shaharuddin, Noor Azmi, Mohd Saud, Halimi, Hasnulhadi, Hasnul Abdul Hakim, Munusamy, Umaiyal
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Springer 2018
• Online Access: http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/72819/1/GCTTCA%20as%20a%20novel%20motif%20.pdf; http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/72819/; https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00299-018-2300-y

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.