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The Amaranthin-Like Lectin (LuALL) Genes of Flax: a Unique Gene Family with Members Inducible by Defence Hormones

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Abstract

Lectins are proteins that bind specifically to carbohydrates and are active in plant defence and many other physiological processes. The sequencing of the flax (Linum usitatissimum) genome showed that it was unusually rich in genes predicted to encode one or more agglutinin domains (Pfam PF07468). This domain is characteristic of the amaranthin-type lectin family, and thus the 19 predicted flax genes that contained this domain were named L. usitatissimum amaranthin-like lectins (LuALLs). Six LuALLs were predicted to contain a lectin domain and also either a Bet v I domain or an aerolysin domain, both of which have also been found in defence-related proteins. To investigate the function of these genes, transcript expression of 19 LuALLs was measured using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Most LuALLs were expressed throughout vegetative and floral tissues, while two were highly enriched in late-stage embryos, and two others were detected exclusively in stems or cotyledons. Transcripts of six LuALLs increased as much as 3,000-fold in seedlings treated with methyl jasmonate, and six LuALLs were induced by salicylic acid, although only one gene was common to both groups of hormone-responsive genes. These studies form a basis for further research on evolution of plant defences, with potential application in enhancing crop protection.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by funding from Genome Canada, Genome Alberta and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Canada.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada, T6G 2E9

    Kashfia Faruque, Rowshon Begam & Michael K. Deyholos

  2. Biology, University of British Columbia - Okanagan Campus, Kelowna, BC, Canada, V1V 2W9

    Michael K. Deyholos

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  1. Kashfia Faruque
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  2. Rowshon Begam
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  3. Michael K. Deyholos
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Correspondence to Michael K. Deyholos.

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Faruque, K., Begam, R. & Deyholos, M.K. The Amaranthin-Like Lectin (LuALL) Genes of Flax: a Unique Gene Family with Members Inducible by Defence Hormones. Plant Mol Biol Rep 33, 731–741 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11105-014-0791-4

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