Identification of the Geranylgeranyl Pyrophosphate Synthase (GGPS) Gene Family in Teak (Tectona grandis)

Abstract

Teak (Tectona grandis, L.f.) plants are known to have the best quality wood in the Lamiaceae family but are also known to contain bioactive compounds that are important for pharmacology, both cosmetics and medicines. One of the phytochemical compounds contained in teak is retinol, which is important in cosmetic technology as an antiaging agent. Retinol is a derivative of carotene and carotene is a derivative of terpenoids. At the gene level, in model plants, the mechanism of terpenoid synthesis is controlled by a family of genes known as Geranylgeranyl Pyrophosphate Synthase (GGPS). The basic science of the GGPS gene is important to develop retinol production in teak. This research aims to identify the GGPS gene family in teak plants and observe the expression profile of two GGPS genes in teak plants, GGPS3 and GGPS6. The approach taken in this study used de novo NGS-transcriptome and qRT-PCR analysis. The results of this research were the results of transcriptome analysis, there were 87,365 contigs and seven GGPS gene sequences were identified. GGPS3 and GGPS6 were tested for expression profiles in young and old leaves using qRT-PCR. There is an up and down-regulation mechanism of the GGPS3 and GGPS6 genes in old and young leaves, indicating a feedback mechanism for these two genes. These results provide a strong basis for engineering terpenoid and retinol synthesis in teak plants.