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Cloning of a cDNA probably encoding oxidosqualene cyclase associated with asiaticoside biosynthesis from Centella asiatica (L.) Urban

  • Genetics and Genomics
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Abstract

A homology-based PCR method was used to clone a cDNA encoding oxidosqualene cyclase from Centella asiatica, which produces a large quantity of triterpene saponins such as asiaticoside and madecassoside. Sequence analysis of one clone found sequences related to β-amyrin synthase. An open reading frame in the full-length clone was named CabAS (Centella asiatica putative β-amyrin synthase). On the basis of amino acid sequence, CabAS appears to be an enzyme (β-amyrin synthase) that synthesizes β-amyrin. Southern analysis showed that the C. asiatica genome contains one copy of the CabAS gene. Northern blot analysis demonstrated that the CabAS gene is expressed in leaves with no detectable transcript in other plant tissues, consistent with the organ-specific accumulation of the asiaticoside. Up-regulation of expression of CabAS by methyl jasmonate in leaves was also demonstrated.

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Acknowledgement

This work was supported by a grant from the Biogreen 21 Program, Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 500-757, South Korea

    Ok Tae Kim, Min Young Kim, Sun Mi Huh & Baik Hwang

  2. School of Biological Sciences and Technology, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 500-757, South Korea

    Dong Gyu Bai

  3. Department of Life Sciences, Seonam University, Namwon, 590-170, South Korea

    Jun Cheul Ahn

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  1. Ok Tae Kim
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  2. Min Young Kim
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  3. Sun Mi Huh
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  4. Dong Gyu Bai
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  5. Jun Cheul Ahn
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Correspondence to Baik Hwang.

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Communicated by I.S. Chung

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Kim, O.T., Kim, M.Y., Huh, S.M. et al. Cloning of a cDNA probably encoding oxidosqualene cyclase associated with asiaticoside biosynthesis from Centella asiatica (L.) Urban. Plant Cell Rep 24, 304–311 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-005-0927-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-005-0927-y

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