Tissue-specific Whole Transcriptome Sequencing in Castor bean Directed at Understanding Triacylglycerol Lipid Biosynthetic Pathways.

Storage triacylglycerols in castor bean seeds are enriched in the hydroxylated fatty acid ricinoleate. Extensive tissue-specific RNA-seq transcriptome and lipid analysis will help identify components important for its biosynthesis. RNA-seq transcriptomic analysis, using Illumina sequencing by synthesis technology, has been performed on mRNA isolated from two stages of developing seeds, germinating seeds, leaf and pollen-producing male flowers in order to identify differences in lipid-metabolic pathways and enzyme isoforms which could be important in the biosynthesis of TAG enriched in 18:1-OH.