The effects of the oligosaccharides and ascophyllum nodosum extract on soybean gene expression

Abstract

To understand the underlying mechanisms and bioactive components within ANE, the effects of ANE and its compositional oligosaccharides on the soybean transcriptome profile were compared. All treatments commonly up-regulated various pathogenesis-related genes and vital plant secondary metabolic processes, like flavonoid and terpenoid biosynthesis, which possess anti-microbial properties. Genes for catabolic processes were also up-regulated in all treatments except for oligo-alginate. Unexpectedly, all treatments except oligo-alginate coincidentally inhibited genes in various energy consuming processes, such as protein, lipid, fatty acid and DNA synthesis; inhibition of, processes involved in cell cycle, cell growth and division were also observed. These decreases in energy consuming processes, and enhancement of energy producing processes and stress responses, are likely produced via the activation of SnRK1 (sucrose non-fermenting related kinase1) or deactivation of TOR (target of rapamycin) pathways.