English

Abstract

Higher plants like rice, barley and maize have unique silicon accumulation characteristic. Silicon is taken up in the form of silicic acid by silicon transporter protein in root. The uniqueness of silicon accumulation in different plants is caused by both the physiologic and molecular diversity in the species even in different parts of a single plant. To understand the mechanism of silicon or silicic acid uptake, it is essential to analyze and study the 3D structure of transporter protein and expression profile through microarray experiments. We used I-TASSER and RAMPAGE for prediction and validation of 3D structure of silicon transporters respectively followed by microarray analysis. The 3D models those showed over 90% residues in favorable regions were considered in this study. Microarray analysis indicated root and shoot with highest silicon accumulation in the analyzed plants. For the development of better abiotic stress tolerant plant, expression of this transporter protein in shoot and root is given priority. This particular work might be helpful for designing a better plant with target efficient and maximum silicon uptake ability.