Plant carbohydrate-active enzymes in bamboo (Neosinocalamus affinis): identification, classification and function in lignocellulose biosynthesis in herbivore defence

Neosinocalamus affinis, a type of cluster bamboo, is a good candidate feedstock for biomass energy. In the study, we found a total of 686 genes were identified as belonging to CAZyme families in the N. affinis transcriptome, including 222 glycoside hydrolases (GHs), 288 glycosyltransferases (GTs), 64 carbohydrate esterases (CEs), 70 auxiliary activities (AAs), 37 carbohydrate binding modules (CBMs) and five polysaccharide lyases (PLs). Expression profiles revealed that several CAZyme genes were up-regulated after insect infestation, particularly the GT, GH, AA and CE family members. Lignocellulose assays showed that the contents of three components, cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, increased after insect infestation. Our findings showed that CAZyme genes were abundant in the N. affinis transcriptome and were involved in the response to herbivory. These findings could be applied to protect bamboo against herbivores, such as the bamboo snout beetle Cyrtotrachelus buqueti, and develop ...