Collection of expressed genes from the transition zone of Cryptomeria japonica in the dormant season

Abstract

Heartwood affects the utility of wood because it differs in some properties compared to sapwood. To regulate heartwood formation, its mechanism must be elucidated. However, the molecular basis underlying heartwood formation remains largely unknown. To obtain clues to understand the mechanism at a molecular level, we collected expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from the transition zone (TZ) of Cryptomeria japonica D. Don in November, in which heartwood formation is considered to proceed. A total of 1029 ESTs were assembled into 744 unique sequences (103 clusters and 641 singletons). Putative functions were assigned to 291 nuclear-encoded sequences, and they were grouped into 21 categories according to the eukaryotic orthologous groups functional classification. We selected 20 genes for enzymes or proteins, then examined their expression patterns among different organs. The expression levels of nine genes were higher in November than in June in the TZ. The genes encode two enzymes in glycolysis, invertase, methionine adenosyltransferase, glutathione transferase, the lipid transfer protein, Bet v 1 allergen, the dehydrin and the function-unknown protein. This study has provided the first large-scale EST information from the TZ of conifers, which will be useful for understanding the physiological processes in the TZ at a molecular level.

Transcriptome sequencing and profiling of expressed genes in cambial zone and differentiating xylem of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica)

“…Overall, 22,738 sequences (41.3%) were annotated to known sequences with designated functional classifications, and 3,816 were similar to known genes of unknown function and unassigned sequences in the database (Figure 4 ). The most frequent functional categories for our data were “Posttranslational modification, protein turnover, chaperones (category symbol O)” and “general function prediction only (R),” which agreed with previous reports [ 21 , 26 - 28 ]. On the other hand, “signal transduction mechanisms (T)” was the next largest category in the annotated designations of functional classification, including the function unknown (and unassigned) category.…”

A transcriptomic view to wounding response in young Scots pine stems

“…Defence-related transcripts, e.g. for chitinases or PR proteins, have been reported to be involved not only in response to stresses but also in different developmental contexts, including heartwood formation 52 , 75 , 76 .…”

A protocol for <i>Agrobacterium</i>-mediated transformation of Japanese cedar, Sugi (<i>Cryptomeria japonica</i> D. Don) using embryogenic tissue explants

“…Genetic transformation, and genome editing technology based on it, can be a powerful tool for shortening the breeding period of trees whose generations are many years apart. A large number of expressed sequence tags obtained from vegetative buds, inner bark, female strobili, male strobili, pollen, sapwood, xylem, cambium, and roots, have been identified (Fukuda et al 2018;Futamura et al 2006Futamura et al , 2008Kurita et al 2011;Mishima et al 2014Mishima et al , 2018Nose and Watanabe 2014;Tsumura et al 1997;Ueno et al 2019;Ujino-Ihara et al 2000Yoshida et al 2007Yoshida et al , 2012, and various genetic linkage maps and DNA markers have been developed (summarized by Tsumura 2011). Genetic transformation is also an essential tool for taking advantage of these abundant resources for molecular breeding and identification of gene function by reverse genetic analysis.…”