Molecular Cloning and Sequence Analysis of a Phenylalanine Ammonia-lyase Gene from Osmanthus fragrans

A phenylalanine ammonia-lyase(PAL) gene cDNA was cloned from Osmanthus fragrans by using a pair of degenerated primers. The PAL cDNA fragment of O. fragrans(designated as OfPAL) was 866 bp length and encoded a 288 amino acid protein. OfPAL was found to have extensive homology with those of other plant PAL genes via multiple alignments. The deamination sites and catalytic active sites in PAL protein of Canarium album,Nicotiana tabacum and Capsicum annuum were also found in OfPAL. Phylogenetic tree analysis revealed that OfPAL had closer relationship with PALs from Asteraceae plants than from other plants. The cloning of OfPAL could be a basis for the study of O. fragrans on its resistant to the environment and the accumulation of flavonoids.