title: Silencing of NbECR encoding a putative enoyl-CoA reductase results in disorganized membrane structures and epidermal cell ablation in Nicotiana benthamiana.
abstract: The very long chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) are synthesized by the microsomal fatty acid elongation system in plants. We investigated cellular function of NbECR putatively encoding enoyl-CoA reductase that catalyzes the last step of VLCFA elongation in Nicotiana benthamiana. Virus-induced gene silencing of NbECR produced necrotic lesions with typical cell death symptoms in leaves. In the affected tissues, ablation of the epidermal cell layer preceded disintegration of the whole leaf cell layers, and disorganized cellular membrane structure was evident. The amount of VLCFAs was reduced in the NbECR VIGS lines, suggesting NbECR function in elongation of VLCFAs. The results demonstrate that NbECR encodes a putative enoyl-CoA reductase and that the NbECR activity is essential for membrane biogenesis in N. benthamiana.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Yonsei University 134, Seoul 120-749, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong-A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Tae-Wuk
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seong-Ki
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Woo Taek
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyun-Sook
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Pai
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000201:enzymology; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000201:enzymology*; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020868:Gene Silencing; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009336:Necrosis; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D010940:Plant Proteins; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases