title: Sugarcane DIRIGENT and O-methyltransferase promoters confer stem-regulated gene expression in diverse monocots.
abstract: Transcription profiling analysis identified Saccharum hybrid DIRIGENT (SHDIR16) and Omicron-Methyltransferase (SHOMT), putative defense and fiber biosynthesis-related genes that are highly expressed in the stem of sugarcane, a major sucrose accumulator and biomass producer. Promoters (Pro) of these genes were isolated and fused to the beta-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene. Transient and stable transgene expression analyses showed that both Pro( DIR16 ):GUS and Pro( OMT ):GUS retain the expression characteristics of their respective endogenous genes in sugarcane and function in orthologous monocot species, including rice, maize and sorghum. Furthermore, both promoters conferred stem-regulated expression, which was further enhanced in the stem and induced in the leaf and root by salicylic acid, jasmonic acid and methyl jasmonate, key regulators of biotic and abiotic stresses. Pro( DIR16 ) and Pro( OMT ) will enable functional gene analysis in monocots, and will facilitate engineering monocots for improved carbon metabolism, enhanced stress tolerance and bioenergy production.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Texas AgriLife Research, Texas A&M System, Weslaco, TX 78596, USA.
authors.forename: Mona B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Damaj
authors.forename: Siva P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Kumpatla
authors.forename: Chandrakanth
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Emani
authors.forename: Phillip D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Beremand
authors.forename: Avutu S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.forename: Keerti S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Rathore
authors.forename: Marco T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Buenrostro-Nava
authors.forename: Ian S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Curtis
authors.forename: Terry L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: T Erik
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Mirkov
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates / Q000494:pharmacology; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D003517:Cyclopentanes / Q000494:pharmacology; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000187:drug effects; D017343:Genes, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D005966:Glucuronidase / Q000378:metabolism; D008031:Lignin / Q000378:metabolism; D008780:Methyltransferases / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009928:Organ Specificity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D012275:Oryza / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D054883:Oxylipins / Q000494:pharmacology; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D031786:Saccharum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics*; D020156:Salicylic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D045868:Sorghum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D003313:Zea mays / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D003517:Cyclopentanes; D054883:Oxylipins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D008031:Lignin; C072239:methyl jasmonate; D008780:Methyltransferases; D005966:Glucuronidase; D020156:Salicylic Acid