title: Modification of Monolignol Biosynthetic Pathway in Jute: Different Gene, Different Consequence.
abstract: Lignin, a cross-linked macromolecule of hydrophobic aromatic structure, provides additional rigidity to a plant cell wall. Although it is an integral part of the plant cell, presence of lignin considerably reduces the quality of the fiber of fiber-yielding plants. Decreasing lignin in such plants holds significant commercial and environmental potential. This study aimed at reducing the lignin content in jute-a fiber crop, by introducing hpRNA-based vectors for downregulation of two monolignoid biosynthetic genes- cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (C4H) and caffeic acid O-methyltransferase (COMT). Transgenic generations, analyzed through Southern, RT-PCR and northern assays showed downregulation of the selected genes. Transgenic lines exhibited reduced level of gene expression with ~ 16-25% reduction in acid insoluble lignin for the whole stem and ~13-14% reduction in fiber lignin content compared to the control lines. Among the two transgenic plant types one exhibited an increase in cellulose content and concomitant improvement of glucose release. Composition of the lignin building blocks was found to alter and this alteration resulted in a pattern, different from other plants where the same genes were manipulated. It is expected that successful COMT-hpRNA and C4H-hpRNA transgenesis in jute will have far-reaching commercial implications leading to product diversification and value addition.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Farhana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shafrin
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Ahlan Sabah
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Ferdous
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Suprovath Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Sarkar
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Rajib
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Al-
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amin
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Kawsar
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hossain
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Mrinmoy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sarker
authors.affiliation: Dept. Plant Biotechnology IRNAS-CSIC P.O. Box 1052, 41080-Seville, Spain.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rencoret
authors.affiliation: Dept. Plant Biotechnology IRNAS-CSIC P.O. Box 1052, 41080-Seville, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gutiérrez
authors.affiliation: Dept. Plant Biotechnology IRNAS-CSIC P.O. Box 1052, 41080-Seville, Spain.
authors.forename: Jose C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Del Rio
authors.affiliation: Plant RNAi Biology Group, International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), New Delhi-11006, India.
authors.forename: Neeti
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sanan-Mishra
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Haseena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D032381:Corchorus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D008031:Lignin / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D008780:Methyltransferases / Q000235:genetics; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D050564:Trans-Cinnamate 4-Monooxygenase / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D008031:Lignin; D050564:Trans-Cinnamate 4-Monooxygenase; D008780:Methyltransferases; C019608:caffeate O-methyltransferase