Full Length Research Paper

Identification of differentially expressed genes in seeds of two Brassica napus mutant lines with different oleic acid content

Gang Xiao^1,2, Xian Men Wu² and Chun Yun Guan²*

¹Pre-State Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation and Resource Utilization of Crops, China.

²The Oil Crops Institute/National Oil Crops Improvement Center, Changsha 410128, Hunan, China.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: sanjian123@yahoo.com. Tel: 86-731-4618778.

Fax: 86-731-4618778.

Accepted 10 September, 2009

   Abstract

The regulation of seed oleic acid synthesis in rapeseed is largely unknown. In this study, gene expression pattern during seed development between two Brassica napus mutants was compared. Using immature seeds 27 days after pollination, differentially expressed cDNA clones were identified by subtractive suppression hybridization (SSH). A total of 480 cDNA clones corresponding to 88 genes were found up-regulated and 18 genes down-regulated in seeds with high oleic acid content. Most of the differentially expressed genes are related to metabolism and regulation. The possible role of these genes in seeds was discussed. Further analysis of the function of these genes may provide novel targets for manipulation of fatty acid composition in rapeseed.

Key words: Brassica napus, differential gene expression, oleic acid content, seed development, subtractive suppression hybridization.