A Differentially Expressed Gene from a High Oil Producer Cultivar of Castor Bean (Ricinus communis) Is Involved in the Biosynthesis of Ricinoleic Acid

Ricinus communis or castor bean is a non-edible oilseed plant widely cultivated worldwide for the high content of castor oil in its seeds and the different uses the oil has in the industry. An increase in its oil content and production efficiency is difficult, making understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the synthesis of oils in the seed necessary. Here, a combined analysis of protein-protein interaction networks was performed using public data on differential gene expression in castor bean seeds at different stages of development. From this analysis, four key enzymes were selected and analyzed in the polyunsaturated fatty acids pathways, whose gene expression was subsequently quantified during the development of the seeds in a Colombian cultivar that produces high amounts of oils and contrasted with a lower producing cultivar. The gene coding FAH12 was differentially expressed in the early stages of seed development in the high oil-producing cultivar and has differences in amino acids A242V and Q319H. The analysis presents this gene as one of those responsible for early ricinoleic acid synthesis, making it a candidate for use in crop genetic improvement programs to increase the oil content in castor bean.