Isolation and characterization of a cinnamoyl-CoA reductase gene from perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne)

Cinnamoyl-CoA reductase (CCR, EC 1.2.1.44) catalyses the conversion of hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA thioesters to cinnamaldehydes at the entry point to the monolignol-specific branch of the lignin biosynthetic pathway. A gene encoding CCR in perennial ryegrass (LpCCR1) was isolated and fully sequenced. LpCCR1 contains five exons of similar sizes to other CCRs and four introns in conserved positions. The 5′ untranslated region contains motifs common to lignin biosynthetic genes. LpCCR1 is present as a single copy gene and maps to LG7 in perennial ryegrass. LpCCR1 is constitutively expressed, is stimulated by mechanical wounding, and transcript abundance in stems increases with maturity.