Abstract
Sugi wood contains characteristic phenolic compounds (C6-C5-C6) called norlignans. Some norlignans are assumed to be related to defense, or color formation of the heartwood. However, their biosynthetic process is largely unknown. Norlignans were reported to be generated in the sapwood during drying of C. japonica logs. We also confirmed the generation of norlignans in the drying sapwood. To isolate genes involved in norlignan biosynthesis, a PCR-based suppression subtractive hybridization method was adopted. A subtracted cDNA library was constructed using RNAs prepared from the sapwood collected on cutting day and the sapwood in which norlignans were generated, respectively. Sequences of more than 1000 subtracted cDNAs were determined. In the poster, we will present the feature of genes that predominantly expressed in the sapwood generating norlignans.
