The polyphenol oxidase gene family in land plants: Lineage-specific duplication and expansion.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Plant polyphenol oxidases (PPOs) are enzymes that typically use molecular oxygen to oxidize ortho-diphenols to ortho-quinones. These commonly cause browning reactions following tissue damage, and may be important in plant defense. Some PPOs function as hydroxylases or in cross-linking reactions, but in most plants their physiological roles are not known. To better understand the importance of PPOs in the plant kingdom, we surveyed PPO gene families in 25 sequenced genomes from chlorophytes, bryophytes, lycophytes, and flowering plants. The PPO genes were then analyzed in silico for gene structure, phylogenetic relationships, and targeting signals.

Results

Many previously uncharacterized PPO genes were uncovered. The moss, Physcomitrella patens, contained 13 PPO ge

SUBMITTER: Tran LT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3472199 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature