Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 11, 2026

Use of Arabidopsis eceriferum Mutants to Explore Plant Cuticle Biosynthesis
Published on: May 31, 2008
Isolation and characterization of two distinct classes of DXS genes in Hevea brasiliensis
Yortyot Seetang-Nun1, Thomas D Sharkey, Wallie Suvachittanont
1Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat-Yai, Songkhla, Thailand.
Abstract:
Two cDNAs encoding two distinct classes of DXSs were cloned from leaves (HbDXS1) and latex (HbDXS2) of Hevea brasiliensis by RT-PCR based methods. HbDXS1 encodes a protein of 720 amino acids, with a high homology to the class I of plant DXS proteins, and HbDXS2 encodes a protein predicted to contain 711 amino acids and with a high homology to the plant DXS class II proteins. Several important motifs and amino acid positions characteristic of DXS proteins are strictly conserved in both new HbDXS proteins. The two HbDXS genes were differentially expressed in various tissues of H. brasiliensis. The transcriptional levels of HbDXS2 were similar in both a high-yielding rubber clone (RRIM 600) and the wild type. Ethephon increased the latex yield and caused a transient increase of expression of the HbDXS2 gene. The expression of HbDXS2 in latex indicates that it may have a primary function in carotenoid biosynthesis rather than for natural rubber.
Related Concept Videos
Exon Recombination
Exon shuffling follows “splice frame rules.” Each exon has three reading...
Evolutionary Relationships through Genome Comparisons
Seedless Vascular Plants
Genetics of Speciation
Transgenic Plants
The first-ever transgenic plant was a tobacco plant developed in 1983 that showed resistance against the tobacco mosaic virus. Since then, many transgenic plants have been developed and commercialized for improving the agricultural, ornamental, and horticultural value of a crop plant. Transgenic...
Gene Duplication and Divergence
The duplicated copies of the gene are called Paralogs. Paralogs with similar sequences and functions form a gene family. Across several species, a large number of gene families are characterized.

