Abstract

A perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) cDNA library was screened with a PCR-amplified cad DNA fragment generated from ryegrass cDNA template using degenerate oligonucleotide primers. A full-length cDNA (LpeCad1) was isolated and confirmed to encode a cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) enzyme by expression of activity in Escherichia coli. The recombinant enzyme catalyses conversion of coniferaldehyde and sinapaldehyde with similar efficiency, and apparent K m values below 10 µM were determined for these substrates, whereas weak substrate inhibition occurs above this concentration. The predicted perennial ryegrass CAD was very similar (88–87percnt; amino acid sequence identity) to the only other monocotyledonous plant CAD sequences available, those of maize and sugarcane, respectively. Southern blot hybridization analysis indicated that there may be two or three cad genes, or alleles, in perennial ryegrass. The ryegrass LpeCad1 gene resembles the maize cadgene in showing strong expression in root and stem tissues, but is also expressed at lower levels in shoot, leaf sheath, leaf blade and floral tissues.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.