Cloning and characterization of a UDP-glucose dehydrogenase gene from mulberry Broussonetia kazinoki * Broussonetia papyifera

Uridine diphosphate glucose dehydrogenase (UGDH) is a key enzyme in the hemicellulose and pectin biosynthesis pathway and participates in the regulation of growth and development in plants. In this study, we isolated a BpUGDH gene from paper mulberry (Broussonetia kazinoki × Broussonetia papyifera) and analyzed its function and expression characteristics. The results show that the BpUGDH was expressed in all organs of paper mulberry with a higher expression in stems than in leaves and roots. A pBpUGDH::GUS gene construct was highly expressed in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings, and its expression was induced by a low temperature, methyl jasmonate, gibberellin A3, ethylene, and auxin. The overexpression of BpUGDH increased the soluble sugar content, promoted the accumulation of hemicellulose, and enhanced the vegetative growth of transgenic plants. These results provide a basis for regulating the growth and adaptability of paper mulberry and improving its utilization value via genetic modification of the BpUGDH gene.