Cloning and expression analysis of squalene synthase gene in Tripterygium wilfordii

In this paper, we cloned the full-length cDNA of TwSQS from Tripterygium wilfordii suspension cells (GenBank:KR401220) and performed the bioinformation and mRNA expression analysis. The expression after methyl jasmonate (MJ) treatment of the gene was detected by RT-PCR. The full-length cDNA of TwSQS was 1800 bp containing a 1242 bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding a polypeptide of 413 amino acids. The theoretical isoelectric point (pI) was 7.94 and the calculate molecular weight was about 47.20 kD. The relative expression level of TwSQS was deduced by MJ and reached the highest at 4 h after the treatment. The gene information we got in this study enriched the biosynthesis pathway of triterpenoids in Tripterygium wilfordii and laid foundation for further studies.