Expression Analysis Of Three Cellulose Synthase Genes In Poplar Trees
Open Access
- Author:
- Wu, Di
- Graduate Program:
- Forest Resources
- Degree:
- Master of Science
- Document Type:
- Master Thesis
- Date of Defense:
- October 19, 2012
- Committee Members:
- John Edward Carlson, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor
Nicole Robitaille Brown, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor
Jeffrey M Catchmark, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor - Keywords:
- cellulose
CesA genes
expression - Abstract:
- Cellulose is a major component of plant cell walls, which are very important in plant growth and development. In addition, cellulose is the core material of the bio-ethanol industry. Cellulose exists in plant cell walls as a homopolymer consisting of β-1, 4-glucan chains, whose polymerization is catalyzed by cellulose synthase (CesA) proteins. The CesA proteins are membrane-bound and occur in larger multi-protein complexes containing different CesA isoforms. In the poplar tree genome, 17 CesA genes are annotated. Seven of the genes have been identified as xylem-specific CesA genes. However, among the remaining 10 genes, CesA9, 10 and 11 have been reported to have higher expression in leaf in particular, as well as lower levels of expression shoot tip, phloem, and xylem. However environmental and genetic affects on expression of these genes are not known. In this project, the expression patterns of these three CesA genes were determined under various environmental stress conditions in leaves of three different poplar genotypes. The genotypes chosen are often used in functional genomics studies, including the two hybrids OGY (Populus deltoides x Populus nigra) and 717-1B4 (Populus tremula x Populus alba) and a stress resistant species from China, Populus tomentosa. Furthermore, the wax and cellulose contents in leaf tissue were measured to determine to what extent genotypic differences in leaf composition might influence environmental stress responses. Results of this research revealed the responses of the CesA9, CesA10 and CesA11 genes to environmental stresses and their potential to play roles in the regulation of cellulose content of leaves.