Bioinformatics and Expression Analysis of Phenylalanine Ammonia-lyase (PAL) from ShuanLa (Capsicum chinense) and Kunming Wrinkled Pepper (C. annuum)

PurposeTo analyze the differences between ShuanLa and Kunming wrinkled pepper phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), exploring the change rules of ShuanLa and Kunming wrinkled pepper PAL expression in different development stages, different environments and different exogenous factors.

MethodsThe PAL gene and protein characteristics were studied based on gene cloning and bioinformatics methods. The relative expression level and enzyme activity of PAL were determined by qPCR and enzyme activity assay.

ResultsThe PAL gene of ShuanLa and Kunming wrinkled pepper was 2 166 bp and 2 154 bp, encoding 721 and 717 amino acids, respectively. The cis-element prediction results showed that the pepper’s PAL gene might be regulated by gibberellin, light and drought. The PAL protein prediction showed that it was fat soluble, hydrophilic and stable protein. PAL proteins had no signal peptide, no transmembrane structure, and both had 58 phosphorylation sites. It was evolutionarily conservative, but there were some differences in subgroups. At different developmental stages, the expression of PAL and enzyme activity increased first and then decreased sharply, and in most developmental stages, the expression of PAL and enzyme activity were higher in open field than in greenhouse. Under the same environmental conditions, the expression and enzyme activity of ShuanLa PAL were higher than those of Kunming wrinkled pepper. Different exogenous substances affected the expression of shabulipal in a certain time.

ConclusionThe PAL gene and protein characteristics of ShuanLa and Kunming wrinkled pepper were similar but different, which played an important role in pepper growth and development, environment and response to exogenous factor.