Characterization of the Genes in Suggests Their Role in Insect Defense.

The first enzyme, (), in the 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol-4-phosphate (MEP) pathway for isoprenoid precursor biosynthesis has been reported to function differently according to species. However, the current state of knowledge about this gene family in is limited. The gene family was identified from the whole genome of by firstly using bioinformatics analysis. Then, the phylogenetic tree was built and the promoter cis-elements were predicted. Six genes were identified and divided into three groups, which had similar domains and gene structure. They are located on five different chromosomes and encode products that do not vary much in size. An analysis of the cis-acting elements revealed that genes possessed light, abiotic stress, and hormone responsive elements. Ultimately, was cloned for an in-depth analysis of their subcellular localization and expression patterns. The subcellular localization results of showed that they were located in the chloroplast envelope membranes. Based on tissue-specific analyses, had the highest expression in mature leaves. Under stress, their different expressions indicated that these genes may have insect-resistance functions. This research provides a theoretical basis for further functional verification of in the future, and a new concept for breeding pest-resistant .