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Differential expression of farnesyl diphosphate synthase gene from Withania somnifera in different chemotypes and in response to elicitors

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Abstract

Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal (Family, Solanaceae), commonly known as Ashwagandha is one of the most valuable medicinal plants synthesizing large number of pharmacologically active secondary metabolites known as withanolides. Though the plant has been well characterized in terms of phytochemical profiles as well as pharmaceutical activities, not much is known about the genes responsible for biosynthesis of these compounds. In this study, we have characterized a gene encoding farnesyl diphosphate synthase (FPPS; EC 2.5.1.10), a key enzyme in the pathway of biosynthesis of isoprenoids, from W. somnifera. The full-length cDNA of Withania somnifera FPPS (WsFPPS) of 1,253 bps encodes a polypeptide of 343 amino acids. The amino acid sequence homology and phylogenetic analysis suggest that WsFPPS has close similarity to its counterparts from tomato (SlFPPS) and capsicum (CaaFPPS). Using semi quantitative RT–PCR, the expression pattern of the WsFPPS gene was analyzed in different tissues of Withania chemotypes (NMITLI-101, NMITLI-108, NMITLI-118 and NMITLI-135) as well as in response to elicitors (salicylic acid and methyl jasmonate) and mechanical wounding. The expression analysis suggests that WsFPPS expression varies in different tissues (with maximal expression in flower and young leaf) and chemotypes (with highest level in NMITLI-101) and was significantly elevated in response to salicylic acid, methyl jasmonate and mechanical injury. This is the first report on characterization of an isoprenoid pathway gene involved in withanolide biosynthesis.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, Govt. of India, for providing the financial support to carry out this work under NMITLI scheme and Network Project (NWP-08).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Botanical Research Institute, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow, 226 001, India

    Parul Gupta, Nehal Akhtar, Shri Krishna Tewari & Prabodh Kumar Trivedi

  2. Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Lucknow, 226015, India

    Rajender Singh Sangwan

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  1. Parul Gupta
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  2. Nehal Akhtar
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  3. Shri Krishna Tewari
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  4. Rajender Singh Sangwan
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  5. Prabodh Kumar Trivedi
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Correspondence to Prabodh Kumar Trivedi.

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Gupta, P., Akhtar, N., Tewari, S.K. et al. Differential expression of farnesyl diphosphate synthase gene from Withania somnifera in different chemotypes and in response to elicitors. Plant Growth Regul 65, 93–100 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10725-011-9578-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10725-011-9578-x

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