Cloning and functional analysis of NtGGPPS4 from Nicotiana tabacum

To clarify the function of geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate synthase gene (NtGGPPS4) in tobacco, the coding sequence of NtGGPPS4 gene was cloned from Nicotiana tabacum. The over-expression vector pCAMBIA1300-NtGGPPS4 was constructed and transferred into Nicotiana tabacum by Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated method. The contents of α-and β-cembrenediol and plastid pigments in transgenic tobacco plants were measured. The results showed that four transgenic tobacco plants which showed high levels of NtGGPPS4 were obtained. Comparing with the control, the contents of α-and β-cembrenediol, neoxanthin, violaxanthin, lutein, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and β-carotene increased significantly in transgenic plants. It indicated that NtGGPPS4 was involved in the biosynthesis of α-and β-cembrenediol and carotenoids in tobacco.