Real-time RT-PCR analysis of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) arabinogalactan-protein and arabinogalactan-protein-like genes

Arabinogalactan-proteins (AGPs) are a class of large hydroxyproline-rich glycoproteins (HGRPs) found in almost all plant species, and have been implicated in various plant growth and developmental processes including xylogenesis. A total of six AGP-like genes or gene families have been cloned from differentiating pine xylem. In this study, seven different members of the ptaAGP5 gene family with between 54% and 73% similarity at the amino acid level were newly identified. Gene-specific primers were designed and relative transcript levels of 11 loblolly pine AGP and AGP-like genes were examined using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis. Expression was examined in different tissues: earlywood and latewood; xylem from two populations; drought-stressed and well-watered roots; compression, opposite and vertical wood; and in vitro cultured cells induced for lignification. The different loblolly pine AGP and AGP-like genes showed varying expression patterns under the different conditions, suggesting different functions for each loblolly pine AGP. The results from this study also suggest that some AGPs are associated with xylogenesis, but not with lignification, and that different xylem AGPs probably have different functions.