Cell and Tissue Journal

Abstract Aim: The aim of this study was investigation of the presence DBAT gene, a key gene in the biosynthetic pathway of taxol, in yew (Taxus baccata) and its taxol producing endophytic fungus and also assessment the similarity of these sequences with sequences available in GenBank.
Material and Methods: In this study, endophytic fungi were isolated from the bark of Taxus baccata and purified, using hyphal tip method. Genomic DNA of yew tree and a taxol producing fungus (T9 isolate) was extracted. Using polymerase chain reaction, presence of DBAT gene was investigated. After sequencing, similarity of sequences obtained from yew and T9 isolate with other taxus species and endophyticn fungi sequences, available in GenBank, were compared.
Results: Using specific primers, a 125 bp fragment of DBAT gene from Taxus baccata and T9 isolate was amplified. Nucleotide and amino acid sequences alignment showed that theses sequences had a high similarity (over 98%) in fungus and host plant. Alignment results of these sequences with other species of yew trees and endophytic fungi sequences also showed very high similarity (98-100%). Besides, relatively high similarity between the nucleotides and amino acid sequences of DBAT and other acyl/aroyltransferases enzymes involved in taxol biosynthesis were observed.
Conclusion: Based on the results, the presence of DBAT gene in taxol producing endophytic fungus and also very high homology of its sequence, in nucleotide and amino acid levels, with host plant (Taxus baccata) and other yew species and fungal endophytes were proved.