ABSTRACT
Reutealis trisperma oil is a new source for biodiesel production. The predominant fatty acids in this plant are stearic acid (9%), palmitic acid (10%), oleic acid (12%), linoleic acid (19%), and α-eleostearic acid (51%). The presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), linoleic acid, and α-eleostearic acid decreases the oxidation stability of R. trisperma biodiesel. Although several studies have suggested that the fatty acid desaturase 2 (FAD2) enzyme is involved in the regulation of fatty acid desaturation, little is known about the genetic information of FAD2 in R. trisperma. The objectives of this study were to isolate, characterize, and determine the relationship between the R. trisperma FAD2 fragment and other Euphorbiaceae plants. cDNA fragments were isolated using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The DNA sequence obtained by sequencing was used for further analysis. In silico analysis identified the fragment identity, subcellular localization, and phylogenetic construction of the R. trisperma FAD2 cDNA fragment and Euphorbiaceae. The results showed that a 923-bp partial sequence of R. trisperma FAD2 was successfully isolated. Based on in silico analysis, FAD2 was predicted to encode 260 amino acids, had a domain similarity with Omega-6 fatty acid desaturase, and was located in the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. The R. trisperma FAD2 fragment was more closely related to Vernicia fordii (HM755946.1).
