Genome-Wide Analysis of the Fatty Acid Desaturase Gene Family Reveals the Key Role of PfFAD3 in α-Linolenic Acid Biosynthesis in Perilla Seeds

• DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.735862
• Publication Date: 2021-11-30T22:34:12Z
• Authors: Wu Duan; Yang Shi-Mei; Shang Zhi-Wei; Xu Jing; Zhao De-Gang; Wang Hong-Bin; Shen Qi
• Keywords: Perilla frutescens; Perilla; Linolenic acid

Perilla (Perilla frutescens), a traditional medicinal and oilseed crop in Asia, contains extremely high levels of polyunsaturated α-linolenic acid (ALA) (up to 60.9%) its seeds. ALA biosynthesis is multistep process catalyzed by fatty desaturases (FADs), but the FAD gene family perilla has not been systematically characterized. Here, we identified 42 PfFADs genome classified them into five subfamilies. Subfamily members had similar exon/intron structures, conserved domain sequences, subcellular localizations, cis-regulatory elements their promoter regions. also possessed various expression patterns. PfFAD3.1 was highly expressed middle stage seed development, whereas PfFAD7/8.3 PfFAD7/8.5 were leaf later stages respectively. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that evolutionary features coincided with functionalization different subfamilies PUFA desaturase. Heterologous overexpression Arabidopsis thaliana seeds increased content 17.68%-37.03%. These findings provided insights characteristics functions PfFAD genes perilla.