Skip to main content
ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Albany, California » Western Regional Research Center » Crop Improvement and Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #189011
Title: TOWARD THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SAFE CASTOR CROP: EXPRESSION PATTERN COMPARISON OF RICIN AND 2S ALBUMIN GENES AND PHYLOGENY ANALYSIS OF 2S ALBUMINS

Author
item Chen, Grace
item He, Xiaohua
item Ahn, Yeh Jin
item Vang, Louisa
item McKeon, Thomas

Submitted to: Recent Progress in Medicinal Plants
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/30/2005
Publication Date: 6/1/2006
Citation: Chen, G.Q., He, X., Ahn, Y., Vang, L., Mckeon, T.A. 2006. Toward the development of a safe castor crop: expression pattern comparison of ricin and 2s albumin genes and phylogeny analysis of 2s albumins. Recent Progress in Medicinal Plants. 15: pp. 453-463

Interpretive Summary: Castor seed ricn and 2S albumins are highly hazerdous proteins and are detrimental to reintroduction of castor as crop. As part of a genetic approach to eliminate ricin and 2S albumin from castor, we compared the developmental expression of these genes in castor seed.

Technical Abstract: Castor (Ricinus communis L.) is an important oilseed crop with significant industrial value. However, the presence of ricin toxin and hyper-allergenic 2S albumins in seed poses health concern during its cultivation and processing. As part of a genetic approach to eliminate ricin and 2S albumins from castor, we have investigated the expression of ricin and 2S albumin genes during seed development. Northern analyses showed that the ricin mRNA levels increased significantly during the middle and late stages of seed development, whereas 2S albumin mRNA accumulated transiently in the middle stages of seed development. The different temporal patterns between ricin and 2S albumin genes indicate distinc regulatory mechanisms involved in their respective gene expression. We further examined the similarities of castor 2S albumins to those from different plant species, including their phylogenetic relationship, common amino acid domains and possible secondary biological functions.