| Abstract Detail
Cell Walls Held, Michael [1], Kessans, Sarah [2], Brandt, Amanda [3], Yong, Weidong [2], Scofield, Steven [3], Carpita, Nicholas C [2]. Viral-induced gene silencing of cellulose synthase and cellulose synthase-like genes in barley reveals a tightly controlled gene network for cell wall biosynthesis. Viral-induced gene silencing of members of the CesA/Csl gene superfamily in Hordeum vulgare cv. Blackhulless was performed using the barley stripe mosaic virus. Targets were designed for silencing the CesA, CslH, and CslF gene families, as well as a single CesA gene. Barley seedlings inoculated with engineered and control viruses were harvested at the onset of third leaf emergence. As a spatial and temporal marker of gene silencing, plants were co-inoculated with viruses targeting the phytoene desaturase gene family. Compared to controls, plants silenced for CesA genes were reduced in the ability to incorporate D-14C-Glc de novo into cellulose as well as mixed-linkage (1->3),(1->4)-beta-D-glucan. Expression of CesA genes were attenuated in these plants, as well as numerous other non-target cell wall glycosyltransferases, including members of the Csl and GT-8 families. Plants silenced for the CslF and CslH gene families were also reduced in the ability to incorporate D-14C-Glc into mixed-linkage (1->3),(1->4)-beta-D-glucan as well as cellulose, suggesting that members of each family are involved in beta-glucan biosynthesis. The data presented here demonstrates that the CesA genes of barley encode cellulose synthases and that silencing particular cell wall biosynthetic enzymes can have a pronounced affect on the expression of other related genes. Further, our data support the existence of a tightly-linked cell wall gene network, in which the expression of individual members shares common control points. This work is supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Biosciences Division. Log in to add this item to your schedule
1 - Purdue University, Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Lilly Hall, 915 W. State St, West Lafayette, IN, 47907-2054, USA 2 - Purdue University, Department of Botany and Plant Pathology 3 - USDA-ARS, Crop Production and Pest Control Research Unit
Keywords: Cellulose cell wall VIGS barley.
Presentation Type: ASPB Minisymposium Session: M13 Location: International Ballroom/Hilton Date: Monday, July 9th, 2007 Time: 11:55 AM Number: M13004 Abstract ID:663 |