Browsing by Author "Osama, Raisa"

The polyketide synthases (PKSs) are a large group of enzymes that catalyze the decarboxylative condensation of malonyl-CoA with various CoA thioesters, in order to biosynthesize different plant secondary metabolites. Anther specific chalcone synthase like (ASCL) enzymes are a novel group of plant type III polyketide synthase involved in the biosynthesis of sporopollenin, which is the stable biopolymer present in the exine layer of pollen walls. A gene encoding polyketide synthase, GhPKS8, was isolated from Gerbera hybrida from RNA sequencing data using gene specific primers. The structure, expression pattern and enzymatic activity of the corresponding enzyme were analyzed. The expression studies revealed that the GhPKS8 transcript is expressed at an early phase of anther development. Sequence analysis showed that the gerbera GhPKS8 gene displayed a high level (79%) of similarity to AtPKSB, the ASCL gene of Arabidopsis thaliana and all the important residues were seen to be conserved in the deduced amino acid sequence of GhPKS8. Additionally, the catalytic properties showed that the enzyme accepts medium chain starter as a substrate. The sequence homology, expression studies together with enzymatic assays revealed that the gerbera GhPKS8 may be an ASCL, involved in the development of anther. The putative role of GhPKS8 in anther exine development is discussed.