Discovery of putative capsaicin biosynthetic genes by RNA-Seq and digital gene expression analysis of pepper

Five cDNA libraries were constructed from the total RNA of placental tissue and sequenced using an Illumina HiSeq 2000. More than 19 million clean reads were obtained from each library, and greater than 50% of the reads were assignable to reference genes. Digital gene expression (DGE) profile analysis using Solexa sequencing was performed at five fruit developmental stages and resulted in the identification of 135 genes of known function; their expression patterns were compared to the capsaicin accumulation pattern. Ten genes of known function were identified as most likely to be involved in regulating capsaicin synthesis.

本研究从胎座组织总RNA中构建了5个互补DNA（cDNA）文库，并采用Illumina HiSeq 2000测序平台完成测序。每个文库均可获得超过1900万条清洁读段（clean reads），且其中超过50%的读段可比对至参考基因。本研究针对5个果实发育阶段的样本，采用Solexa测序技术开展数字基因表达（Digital Gene Expression, DGE）谱分析，共鉴定出135个具备已知功能的基因，并将这些基因的表达模式与辣椒素（capsaicin）积累模式进行了对比分析。其中10个具备已知功能的基因被认定为极有可能参与辣椒素合成调控的关键基因。