Evaluation of the superexpression effect of the Susy3 gene from Eucalyptus grandis in plant model Arabidopsis thaliana with overexpression of the EgCesA3 gene

• Grant number: 14/12870-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2014
• End date: September 30, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Plant Genetics
• Principal Investigator: Gonçalo Amarante Guimarães Pereira
• Grantee: Rodrigo Adrián de Oliveira Abans
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

In Brazil, eucalyptus plantations account for 76% of total commercially planted forests, being E. urophylla and E. grandis hybrids the majority of those trees. The species most used in genetic improvement programs in Brazil are E. urophylla (wide resistance to plagues, although low productivity), E. globulus (high cellulose content and low lignin content) e E. grandis (intermediary characteristics, good growth in the tropical climate). Wood is mainly formed by the secondary xylem, located in the stalk/trunk, whose secondary cell wall is constituted primarily by cellulose. The ²-glucose microfibrils that make up the cellulose are synthesized in the transmembranal rosette complex, where different cellulose synthases (CESA) are organized to receive UDP-D-glucose, from sucrose catalysis by the sucrose synthase (SUSY). In E. urophylla, it was evidenced a smaller general expression of the CesA and Susy genetic families, it is believed that this differential expression is directly linked to wood quality. Therefore, the goal of this project is to insert the EgSusy3 gene overexpressed in an Arabidopsis thaliana with EgCesA3 gene already overexpressed in order to study their combined action in the biosynthesis of cellulose. As soon as it reaches homozygosis by advancing transgenic lines of EgCesA3-EgSusy3, histological and molecular analysis will be done to confirm the quality and success of the transformation as well as to evaluate possible differences in the cellulose and lignin content in cell wall from A. thaliana stems. (AU)