Abstract
The coordinate induction of flavonoid biosynthesis with shikimate pathway, serving phenylalanine as precursors for flavonoid biosynthesis, in response to environmental stimuli suggests that the expression of genes involved in both pathways coordinate under the common transcriptional control. 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate 7-phosphate (DAHP) synthase, the first enzyme in the shikimate pathway, is encoded by multiple copies of the gene with different patterns of expression of tissue or cells and induction following environmental stimuli. However, the organization and differential regulation of individual genes in the DAHP synthase multigene family during development and in response to different environmental stimuli has remained obscure. We have isolated DAHP synthase homologues from Lotus japonicus Gifu-129. Sequence analysis of PCR products suggests that at least five distinct DAHP synthase genes exist in L. japonicus. The analysis of expression patterns of each homologue in response to different environmental stimuli is in progress.
