OPEN ACCESS ARTICLE

This Article Free via Open Access: OA OA Full Text Full Text (PDF) OA All Versions of this Article: 143/2/959    most recent pp.106.088484v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Web of Science (6) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Meesapyodsuk, D. Articles by Covello, P. S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Meesapyodsuk, D. Articles by Covello, P. S. Pubmed/NCBI databases Protein Substance via MeSH Agricola Articles by Meesapyodsuk, D. Articles by Covello, P. S.

BIOCHEMICAL PROCESSES AND MACROMOLECULAR STRUCTURES

Saponin Biosynthesis in Saponaria vaccaria. cDNAs Encoding -Amyrin Synthase and a Triterpene Carboxylic Acid Glucosyltransferase^1,[OA]

Plant Biotechnology Institute, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N OW9

Saponaria vaccaria (Caryophyllaceae), a soapwort, known in western Canada as cowcockle, contains bioactive oleanane-type saponins similar to those found in soapbark tree (Quillaja saponaria; Rosaceae). To improve our understanding of the biosynthesis of these saponins, a combined polymerase chain reaction and expressed sequence tag approach was taken to identify the genes involved. A cDNA encoding a -amyrin synthase (SvBS) was isolated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and characterized by expression in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). The SvBS gene is predominantly expressed in leaves. A S. vaccaria developing seed expressed sequence tag collection was developed and used for the isolation of a full-length cDNA bearing sequence similarity to ester-forming glycosyltransferases. The gene product of the cDNA, classified as UGT74M1, was expressed in Escherichia coli, purified, and identified as a triterpene carboxylic acid glucosyltransferase. UGT74M1 is expressed in roots and leaves and appears to be involved in monodesmoside biosynthesis in S. vaccaria.

The author responsible for distribution of materials integral to the findings presented in this article in accordance with the policy described in the Instructions for Authors (www.plantphysiol.org) is: Patrick S. Covello (patrick.covello{at}nrc-cnrc.gc.ca).

^[OA] Open Access articles can be viewed online without a subscription.

www.plantphysiol.org/cgi/doi/10.1104/pp.106.088484

^* Corresponding author; e-mail patrick.covello{at}nrc-cnrc.gc.ca; fax 306–975–4839.

Received August 18, 2006; accepted November 27, 2006; published December 15, 2006.