Screening of key genes in fatty acid synthesis in seed kernel of Elaeagnus mollis Diels.

Abstract

Abstract [Objective] The study aims to mine the key genes involved in fatty acid synthesis using transcriptomic analysis of kernels from different periods of Elaeagnus mollis Diels. [Methods] We observed and recorded fruit development of E. mollis Diels. and used the fresh seed kernels of adult trees during the period of fruit initiation (C6), rapid fruit expansion (C7), and fruit maturity (C8) as materials. The fatty acid fractions and contents of the kernels of three periods were determined by hydrolysis extraction. The expression of samples from C6 and C7 was analyzed using transcriptome sequencing, in order to search the differentially expressed genes. [Results] The fatty acid content of the three periods showed a gradual increase over time. 6 375 up-regulated genes and 8 124 down-regulated genes were obtained from the seed kernel data of C6 and C7 periods, totaling 14 499 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Among the selected DEGs, 8 137 genes were annotated in the GO database, and 4 275 genes were annotated in the KEGG database, mainly involving in metabolic pathways, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, hormone transduction, amino acid synthesis pathways, and other pathways. Among them, pathways related to fatty acid biosynthesis and unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis were enriched, with a focus on identifying 8 candidate genes related to fatty acid synthesis. Compared with C6 stage, EmBCCP1, EmSAD1, Em- FAD2-1, EmFAD3-1, and EmPDCT1 genes were up regulated, while EmFAbG1, EmPDAT1, and EmKASI1 genes were down regulated. [Conclusion] EmBCCP1, EmSAD1, EmFAD2-1, EmFAD3-1, EmPDCT1, EmKASI1, EmFAbG1, and EmPDAT1 genes may promote the synthesis and accumulation of oleic acid and linoleic acid in the seeds, serving as key genes for fatty acid synthesis in E. mollis Diels. seed kernels.

Keywords

• elaeagnus mollis diels.
• seed kernel
• fatty acids
• transcriptome sequencing