Alternative Splicing of Key Genes in LOX Pathway Involves Biosynthesis of Volatile Fatty Acid Derivatives in Tea Plant ().

Volatile fatty acid derivatives (VFADs) produced in tea plants () not only have been shown to function as defense compounds but also impart a "fresh green" odor to green tea products; however, little is known about alternative splicing (AS) of genes in regulating the production of VFADs in plants. In this study, the contents of VFADs and corresponding transcriptome profiles were obtained in five different months (April, June, August, September, and October). Correlation analysis identified seven unique transcripts of enzyme-coding genes (, , , , and ), which are responsible for regulating VFAD biosynthesis; four AS transcripts of these genes (, , , and ) were validated by RT-PCR. By employing the gene-specific antisense oligodeoxynucleotide-mediated reduction method, we found the expression levels of alternatively spliced transcripts of , , and were lower, and the contents of -3-hexenol were correspondingly reduced in the leaves of tea plant; this result suggested that the AS play important roles in regulating biosynthesis of VFADs in . Our results provide new insights into the important contribution of AS events in regulating the VFAD biosynthesis in tea plant.