Characterization of CesA6 in Oat

Cellulose synthase catalytic subunit genes (CesAs) are involved in the biosynthesis of cellulose, an insoluble fiber that is the main component of the plant cell wall. In all land plants, cellulose microfibrils are synthesized from a rosette complex, known as the cellulose synthesis complex, embedded in the plasma membrane. Each complex consists of six globules that all contain multiple cellulose synthase catalytic subunits (CesAs). CesA6 is a member of the cellulose synthase catalytic subunit family and research shows it is specialized for cellulose synthesis in the primary cell wall. In this study, EST sequence data from several oat germplasm was utilized to amplify and clone the CesA6 catalytic subunit gene from multiple Avena species including the diploid species A. strigosa (AA), A. canaeriensis (DD), and A. ventricosa (CC). Comparison of the A. sativa sequences to the sequences of the diploid sequences allowed for the determination of genomic origin. The CesA6 gene in Oat is ~ 5kb with 12 introns and a coding sequence of 3.2 kb.