Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase gene family (PAL): Genome wide characterization and transcriptional expression in jute (Corchorus olitorius)

Jute is one of the important ligno-cellulose bast fiber crops next to cotton. High lignin content in jute fiber makes hindrances during spinning in the textile industry. Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), encoded by multigene family, is the first enzyme in the phenylpropanoid pathway which involved in biosynthesis of different secondary metabolites including lignin. A total of 4 PAL genes were identified in jute (Corchorus. olitorius) genome which was being distributed in two chromosomes and clustered into three subfamilies based on phylogenetic analysis. Like PAL genes in other species, CoPALs had similar molecular properties and structure organizations. Expression analysis revealed that CoPAL1 and CoPAl2 were differentially expressed in various jute tissues. Among them, CoPAL1 was predominately expressed in stem tissues suggesting its involvement in lignin accumulation in fiber and can act as a potential target for reducing lignin in jute. Our study provides useful information for future functional characterization of PAL genes in jute.