Identification of cis-acting elements and transcription factors controlling the expression of sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid synthase

• Grant number: 12/06906-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: August 01, 2012
• End date: February 28, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Plant Genetics
• Principal Investigator: Marcelo Menossi Teixeira
• Grantee: Valter Miotto Alessio
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Ethylene is a plant hormone involved in the developmental regulation and in biotic and abiotic stress signaling. The conversion catalyzed by ACS enzyme (1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid synthase) has been reported as a limiting step of ethylene biosynthesis. In sugarcane it is usual the application of ethylene precursors as a way to accelerate the maturation process, although the mechanisms of action in this process remain unknown. Therefore, a way to improve our knowledge in this question is the identification of the elements that control the expression of key genes as ACS. The aim of this study is to identify the cis-acting regulatory elements and transcription factors controlling the expression of two ACS coding genes of sugarcane. The identification of these elements will bring new insights in the sugarcane ethylene biosynthetic regulatory network and new perspectives for further functional studies of these regulatory genes.