Isolation and characterization of homeodomain leucine zipper class-III transcription factor gene in <em>Eucalyptus tereticornis</em>

Abstract

Wood is the most abundant raw material and is used as industrial product and renewable bioenergy resource. Genomic studies in woody perennials have revealed the involvement of several wood associated transcription factors regulating the coordinated process of wood formation. The homeodomain-leucine zipper (HD-ZIP) is one of the plant-specific transcription factor known to play key role in plant development. It is expressed in provascular cells and cambial meristem where it has been proposed to regulate vascular development. In this study, the homeodomain-leucine zipper class III transcription factor gene (<em>EtHB2</em>) was isolated from leaf tissue of <em>Eucalyptus tereticornis</em>. The complete coding domain sequence was 2535 base pairs (encodes for 844 amino acids) in length and harbored the signature domains including homeodomain leucine zipper, START and MEKHLA. Tissue specific expression profiling of <em>EtHB2</em> revealed its predominant expression in developing xylem tissues.