Ectopic expression of wax ester synthase under a wood-specific promoter enhances cell wall production and wood hydrophobicity.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Many industrial applications of wood and woody biomass require harsh physicochemical pretreatments to improve the hydrophobicity and durability of the products. Environmentally friendly wood biorefineries necessitate the replacement of chemicals and energy-consuming wood processing. Here, our goal was to increase wood hydrophobicity via the ectopic expression of Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) wax ester synthase (ScWS) in poplar (Populus × canescens). We expressed ScWS under a wood-specific promoter (DX15), which naturally controls the expression of FASCICLIN-like ARABINOGALACTAN PROTEIN 15 (FLA15) in the xylem.

Results

In the DX15::ScWS lines, ScWS was highly expressed in wood but not in leaves. The transgenic lines exhibited normal photosynthesis and growth simila

SUBMITTER: Amirkhosravi A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12182671 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature