Recent progress in the molecular biology of tea (Camellia sinensis) based on the expressed sequence tag strategy: a review

Abstract

SummaryThe expressed sequence tag (EST) technique provides a quick, efficient, and inexpensive route for gene cloning, gene expression profiling and regulation analysis, genome mapping, and functional annotation of genome sequences. Although an important cash crop, research on the molecular biology of tea (Camellia sinensis) started later and progressed more slowly than similar advances in major cereal crops and woody species. Most recently, progress has been made on the molecular biology of tea based on the strategies of EST sequencing and annotation. Advances have included the elucidation of gene expression profiling, the establishment and use of cDNA microarrays, data mining for EST-SSR (simple sequence repeat; microsatellite) and STR (short tandem repeat) loci, and cloning and expression analysis of genes involved in secondary metabolism, and stress defense.All these advances have contributed to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying growth, development, metabolism, and responses to the environment in tea plants, as well as to the promotion of molecular biology research in tea. New high-throughput sequencing technology will further accelerate genome sequencing of this species in the future.