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Hardwood Evolution Research Featured in The Plant Cell
Millions of years ago, gymnosperms--including conifers such as pines and redwoods--were the only type of plants on earth. Then angiosperms--the flowering plants--appeared, including hardwood trees. While angiosperms are considered more advanced than gymnosperms, their origins largely remain a mystery. In gymnosperms, also known as softwoods, only guaiacyl lignin is present. In hardwoods, both guaiacyl and syringyl lignin are found. Researchers at Michigan Tech's Plant Biotechnology Research Center, have described the genetic pathway used to create syringyl lignin, a type of lignin that is unique to angiosperms. They have identified and, for the first time, cloned a gene from aspen, an angiosperm, which they suspected was responsible for producing syringyl lignin. The researchers include lead author Laigen Li, research assistant professor, and Vincent Chiang, professor of forestry and the center's director. For years, most scientists have believed that another gene controlled the production of both lignin types. "But we thought it didn't make sense for plants to evolve new proteins and still use the old gene," Chiang said. "Our discovery of a syringyl-specific gene overturns that traditional model; it's been very exciting."
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Engineering Enterprise |
Michigan
Tech Research 2002
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Researchers
in Michigan Tech's School of Forestry and Wood Products have discovered
a gene that may have played a key role in the evolution of hardwood trees
such as oaks and maples. Their work was featured on the cover of the July
2001 issue of The Plant Cell, which ranks first in impact among plant
science-related journals.