Cloning Cellulose Synthetase Gene CcCesA1 from Jute ( Corchorus capsularis L.) and Transformation of Arabidopsis via Antisense Vector

Abstract

Using homologous cloning and modified RACE techniques, we cloned the full-length cDNA of jute cellulose synthetase gene excluding the 500 bp of 5' terminal from the stem bark of jute cultivar 179(Corchorus capsularis L.). The sequence is 2529 bp in length, encoding 627 amino acids. Gene alignment and protein structure analysis showed that the sequence cloned is a member of the cellulose synthetase gene family. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR assay indicated that expression level of CcCesA1 varied in different organs of jute(bark root leaf bud sticks). A antisense vector was constructed based on partial cDNA and 3' UTR region of CcCesA1, and the positive plasmids were transformed into Arabidopsis thaliana. Southern blot evidence confirmed that one copy of exogenous gene was integrated in the Arabidopsis genome. The growth of tansgenic Arabidopsis was stunted severely, resulting in dwarf plant, easily bending stem, reduced and shortened silique, and decreased cellulose content. This finding implies that CcCesA1 might be involved in cellulose synthesis in addition to other plant growth processes.