title: Cloning and functional analysis of a cDNA encoding Ginkgo biloba farnesyl diphosphate synthase.
abstract: Farnesyl diphosphate synthase (FPS; EC2.5.1.1/EC2. 5.1.10) catalyzes the synthesis of farnesyl diphosphate, and provides precursor for biosynthesis of sesquiterpene and isoprenoids containing more than 15 isoprene units in Ginkgo biloba. Here we report the cloning, characterization and functional analysis of a new cDNA encoding FPS from G. biloba. The full-length cDNA (designated GbFPS) had 1731 bp with an open reading frame of 1170 bp encoding a polypeptide of 390 amino acids. The deduced GbFPS was similar to other known FPSs and contained all the conserved regions of trans-prenyl chain-elongating enzymes. Structural modeling showed that GbFPS had the typical structure of FPS, the most prominent feature of which is the arrangement of 13 core helices around a large central cavity. Southern blot analysis revealed a small FPS gene family in G. biloba. Expression analysis indicated that GbFPS expression was high in roots and leaves, and low in stems. Functional complementation of GbFPS in an FPS-deficient strain confirmed that GbFPS mediates farnesyl diphosphate biosynthesis.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan-SJTU-Nottingham Plant Biotechnology R&D Center, Morgan-Tan International Center for Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 20433, China.
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zhihua
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Wenchao
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pi
authors.forename: Yifu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Xiaofen
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Kexuan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D019883:Alkyl and Aryl Transferases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D002451:Cell Compartmentation; D003001:Cloning, Molecular / Q000379:methods*; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D051228:Geranyltranstransferase; D020441:Ginkgo biloba / Q000201:enzymology*; D010802:Phylogeny; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D040681:Structural Homology, Protein; D015003:Yeasts / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D019883:Alkyl and Aryl Transferases; D051228:Geranyltranstransferase