Abstract
Isoprene is a volatile hemiterpene emitted from leaves of many plants. Despite its massive emission, the physiological function of isoprene in plants is not well understood. In this study, we have cloned isoprene synthase (PaIspS) cDNA from Populus alba to analyze the environmental response of gene expression, and PaIspS-expressing Arabidopsis was characterized to clarify the physiological roles of isoprene emission from plants.
PaIspS cDNA was isolated by RT-PCR, and its enzymatic function was characterized in Escherichia coli. Then, we analyzed the response of its gene expression to environmental stresses. PaIspS was strongly induced by heat treatment and light irradiation, and was decreased in the dark, suggesting that isoprene emission was regulated at the transcriptional level.
We have prepared transgenic Arabidopsis overexpressing PaIspS gene, which is thought to be a non-isoprene emitter. The isoprene production by these transgenic plants and its influence on the Arabidopsis phenotype will be also reported.
