The phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) gene family shows a gymnosperm-specific lineage.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) is a key enzyme of the phenylpropanoid pathway that catalyzes the deamination of phenylalanine to trans-cinnamic acid, a precursor for the lignin and flavonoid biosynthetic pathways. To date, PAL genes have been less extensively studied in gymnosperms than in angiosperms. Our interest in PAL genes stems from their potential role in the defense responses of Pinus taeda, especially with respect to lignification and production of low molecular weight phenolic compounds under various biotic and abiotic stimuli. In contrast to all angiosperms for which reference genome sequences are available, P. taeda has previously been characterized as having only a single PAL gene. Our objective was to re-evaluate this finding, assess the evolutionary his

SUBMITTER: Bagal UR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3394424 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature