BESC – Transcriptional Regulator of MYB46 Expression

PthAT (Potri.016G026100) gene encodes a transcription repressor and directly regulates the expression of MYB46, one master regulator of lignin biosynthesis and secondary metabolic pathways. Change in the expression level of this gene in Populus plants will result in altered lignin content in secondary cell walls and altered levels of flavonoid and tyrosine. Specifically, the lignin content changes by manipulating the expression level of this gene will facilitate efficient production of cellulose sugars and ethanol from plant biomass, and production of lignin-based products such as carbon fibers. On the other hand, the manipulation of the expression level of this gene will alter metabolic levels of flavonoid and tryptophan, which can be used to produce plant-based high value flavonoids with medicinal or therapeutic applications and engineer pathogen resistant strains.

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