title: Molecular cloning and expression profiling of a chalcone synthase gene from Lamiophlomis rotata.
abstract: Lamiophlomis rotata is a renowned Chinese medicinal plant. Chalcone synthase (CHS) is important in flavonoid and isoflavonoid biosynthesis, catalysing the formation of naringenin chalcone in plants. A full-length cDNA encoding the CHS gene was cloned from L. rotata based on the highly conserved CHS gene sequences of Labiatae plants. A blast search showed its homology (named LrCHS) with other CHS genes of Labiate plants. The full-length genomic DNA of LrCHS was 2026 bp with one intron of 651 bp, two exons of 178 bp and 998 bp, flanked by a 73 bp 5'-UTR and a 126 bp 3'-UTR. The cDNA sequence of the LrCHS gene had an 1176 bp open reading frame encoding a 391 amino acid protein of 42,798 Da. The CHS protein predicted from L. rotata showed 79-86% identity with CHS of other plant species. We conducted a phylogenetic analysis of nine families containing 48 plants and L. rotata based on the full amino acid sequences of CHS proteins. Consequently, LrCHS was located in the Labiatae branch. Additionally, we examined LrCHS gene expression patterns in different tissues by quantitative real-time PCR with specific primers. The expression analysis showed preferential expression of LrCHS in flowers and leaves during the flowering stage. Total flavonoid content and CHS gene expression exhibited similar patterns during L. rotata organ development. In agreement with its function as an elicitor-responsive gene, LrCHS expression was coordinated by methyl jasmonate and UV light, and induced between 6 and 18 h. These results provide a molecular basis for additional functional studies of LrCHS in L. rotata.
authors.affiliation: Lab of Environment and Resource in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Ministry of Education, Qinghai Normal University, Xining 810008, People's Republic of China. qiaofnm@163.com.
authors.forename: Qiao
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Geng
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gui-Gong
authors.forename: Zeng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Xie
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hui-Chun
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.forename: Shang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jun
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhi
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates / Q000494:pharmacology; D000217:Acyltransferases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D053898:Biosynthetic Pathways / Q000235:genetics; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D019295:Computational Biology; D003517:Cyclopentanes / Q000494:pharmacology; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D017343:Genes, Plant; D019686:Lamiaceae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000528:radiation effects; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D054883:Oxylipins / Q000494:pharmacology; D010802:Phylogeny; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D003517:Cyclopentanes; D005419:Flavonoids; D054883:Oxylipins; C072239:methyl jasmonate; D000217:Acyltransferases; C020141:flavanone synthetase