Biotechnology Bulletin ›› 2025, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (7): 226-236.doi: 10.13560/j.cnki.biotech.bull.1985.2024-1056

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Cloning of Plastidial PfLPAT1B Gene from Perilla frutescens and Its Functional Analysis in Oil Biosynthesis

HUANG Xu-sheng(), ZHOU Ya-li, CHAI Xu-dong, WEN Jing, WANG Ji-ping, JIA Xiao-yun(), LI Run-zhi()   

  1. College of Agronomy, Shanxi Agricultural University, Shanxi Engineering Research Center for Genetics and Metabolism of Specific Crops, Taigu 030801
  • Received:2024-10-28 Online:2025-07-26 Published:2025-07-22
  • Contact: JIA Xiao-yun, LI Run-zhi E-mail:hxss214809@163.com;jiaxiaoyun@sxau.edu.cn;rli2001@126.com

Abstract:

Objective Lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase (LPAT) plays a crucial role in plant growth, development, and lipid metabolism. This study aims to investigate the biological function of the PfLPAT1B gene of Perilla frutescens, providing a scientific foundation for the genetic improvement and breeding of new cultivars of Perilla and other oilseed crops. Method The PfLPAT1B gene sequence was identified from the Perilla genome database, and its sequence characteristics and phylogenetic relationships were analyzed using omics tools. The expression patterns of PfLPAT1B in various tissues and different developmental seeds were evaluated by RT-qPCR. The enzyme activity of PfLPAT1B protein was assessed using the Escherichia coli LPAT-deficient strain SM2-1. The function of PfLPAT1B in oil biosynthesis was performed via genetic transformation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Nicotiana tabacum. Result PfLPAT1B gene encodes a total of 369 amino acid residues and it is a basic unstable hydrophilic protein, containing a typical conserved domain of lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase. PfLPAT1B gene was expressed in different tissues and seeds at different developmental stages of Perilla, with the highest expression in flowers and an increasing trend during seed development. Subcellular localization showed that PfLPAT1B is localized in chloroplast. Complementation assays in the SM2-1 strain demonstrated that PfLPAT1B possesses LPAT enzymatic activity. Overexpression of PfLPAT1B gene in S. cerevisiae and N. tabacum significantly enhanced the total oil content, accompanied by increased levels of C16:0 and C16:1. Moreover, transgenic tobacco showed a notable increase in starch content and a decrease in soluble sugar content. Conclusion The PfLPAT1B gene from Perilla encodes a functional LPAT enzyme. Heterologous overexpression of PfLPAT1B can significantly enhance oil biosynthesis and accumulation and alter the content of major fatty acids in host tissues.

Key words: Perilla frutescens, lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase, oil biosynthesis and accumulation, sequence characteristic analysis, expression characteristic analysis, Escherichia coli complementation function test, yeast transformation, tobacco heterologous expression