Developmental Expression of Microsomal Omega-6 Desaturase Gene (fad2-1) in Soybean Seeds

Fad2-1 gene encoded microsomal omega-6 desaturase plays a major role in controlling the conversion of oleic acid to linoleic acid within storage lipids during seed development. A 180 bp region (1241–1422) specific to fad2-1 was amplified and its sequence confirmed. Northern blot analysis using the labelled amplicon as probe indicated that the fad2-1 expression was induced during early stages of embryo development and peaked in the mid-maturation stages. Tissue specificity of fad2-1 transcripts was confirmed by the complete absence of fad2-1 transcripts in the vegetative tissues of leaf, stem and root. Developmental profile of fatty acids showed increased levels of linoleic acid during the mid-maturation stages which coincided with the enhanced expression of fad2-1 during the same period.