title: Genome-wide analysis of the structural genes regulating defense phenylpropanoid metabolism in Populus.
abstract: Salicin-based phenolic glycosides, hydroxycinnamate derivatives and flavonoid-derived condensed tannins comprise up to one-third of Populus leaf dry mass. Genes regulating the abundance and chemical diversity of these substances have not been comprehensively analysed in tree species exhibiting this metabolically demanding level of phenolic metabolism. Here, shikimate-phenylpropanoid pathway genes thought to give rise to these phenolic products were annotated from the Populus genome, their expression assessed by semiquantitative or quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and metabolic evidence for function presented. Unlike Arabidopsis, Populus leaves accumulate an array of hydroxycinnamoyl-quinate esters, which is consistent with broadened function of the expanded hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA transferase gene family. Greater flavonoid pathway diversity is also represented, and flavonoid gene families are larger. Consistent with expanded pathway function, most of these genes were upregulated during wound-stimulated condensed tannin synthesis in leaves. The suite of Populus genes regulating phenylpropanoid product accumulation should have important application in managing phenolic carbon pools in relation to climate change and global carbon cycling.
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Research Center, School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931, USA. chtsai@mtu.edu
authors.forename: Chung-Jui
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Scott A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Harding
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Tschaplinski
authors.forename: Richard L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Lindroth
authors.forename: Yinan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yuan
mesh_terms: D003373:Coumaric Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D017343:Genes, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D018745:Genome, Plant; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010802:Phylogeny; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000378:metabolism; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D032107:Populus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012459:Salicylates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D003373:Coumaric Acids; D005419:Flavonoids; D010940:Plant Proteins; D012459:Salicylates