Proceedings of the XLVII Italian Society of Agricultural Genetics - SIGA Annual Congress

Verona, Italy - 24/27 September, 2003

ISBN 88-900622-4-X

Poster Abstract - 1.48

Cloning and functional characterization of the promoter for a stilbene synthase gene from Cissus juttae

F. GEUNA*, C. MAITTI*, F. LOCATELLI**, A. SCIENZA*

*) Dipartimento di Produzione Vegetale, Università di Milano, Via Celoria 2, I-20133 Milano

**) Istituto di Biologia e Biotecnologia Agraria, CNR, Via Bassini 15, I-20133 Milano

resveratrol, stilbene, promoter, transient expression, Vitis

Resveratrol is a natural compound renowned for its role as an antifungal agent in the species where it has been studied. Beside its properties in plant pathogen protection, it is now widely recognised also as a strong antioxidant and antitumor agent for human health. From the agronomic point of view, active research is underway worldwide to improve plant resistance to major fungal pathogens by transgenic expression of the gene coding stilbene synthase, the key enzyme for its biosynthesis. Genes for stilbene synthase have been cloned from Vitis vinifera and other species belonging to its family, as well as from Arachys hypogea and some conifers. In this study we report the cloning and preliminary characterization of the promoter belonging to one member of the stilbene synthase gene family from a Vitacea producing resveratrol and other related compounds.