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Sterol glycosyltransferases-identification of members of gene family and their role in stress in Withania somnifera

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An Erratum to this article was published on 12 July 2012

Abstract

Sterol glycosyltransferases (SGTs) catalyze the transfer of sugar molecules to diverse sterol molecules, leading to a change in their participation in cellular metabolism. Withania somnifera is a medicinal plant rich in sterols, sterol glycosides and steroidal lactones. Sterols and their modified counterparts are medicinally important and play a role in adaptation of the plant to stress conditions. We have identified 3 members of SGT gene family through RACE (Rapid Amplification of cDNA Ends) in addition to sgtl1 reported earlier. The amino acid sequence deduced from the ORF’s showed homology (45–67 %) to the reported plant SGTs. The expression of the genes was differentially modulated in different organs in W. somnifera and in response to external stimuli. Salicylic acid and methyl jasmonate treatments showed up to 10 fold increase in the expression of sgt genes suggesting their role in defense. The level of expression increased in heat and cold stress indicating the role of sterol modifications in abiotic stress. One of the members, was expressed in E. coli and the enzyme assay showed that the crude enzyme glycosylated stigmasterol. W. somnifera expresses a family of sgt genes and there is a functional recruitment of these genes under stress conditions. The genes which are involved in sterol modification are important in view of medicinal value and understanding stress.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Government of India for financial support to the project under New Millennium Indian Technology Leadership Initiative.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, UP, India

    Pankaj Chaturvedi

  2. Tissue Culture and Transformation Laboratory, National Botanical Research Institute (Council of Scientific & Industrial Research), Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow, 226001, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Manoj Mishra, Nehal Akhtar, Parul Gupta & Pratibha Mishra

  3. National Agri-food Biotechnology Institute, Mohali, Punjab, India

    Rakesh Tuli

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  1. Pankaj Chaturvedi
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Correspondence to Pratibha Mishra.

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Chaturvedi, P., Mishra, M., Akhtar, N. et al. Sterol glycosyltransferases-identification of members of gene family and their role in stress in Withania somnifera . Mol Biol Rep 39, 9755–9764 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-012-1841-3

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