Isolation and characterization of Myb-related genes from oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.)

Myb is a sequence-specific DNA-binding protein that can activate or inactivate promoters containing its binding site. Two different Myb-like genes were isolated from oil palm (Elaeis guineensis). The deduced amino acid sequence of OpMyb24, which was obtained from a zygotic embryo cDNA library, showed extensive homology to the snapdragon proteins Myb308 and Myb330, and to maize protein Zm38. Furthermore, the OpMyb15 gene, from an oil palm suspension culture (OPSC) cDNA library, was very similar to MIXTA from Antirrhinum majus. OpMyb15 was expressed in all tissues tested, while transcript of OpMyb24 was detected everywhere except in three-month-old and young leaves. Although both transcripts accumulated to high levels in response to treatment with gibberellic acid, levels of OpMyb24 decreased significantly after plants were either wounded or treated with heavy metals or UV.