Glycine-rich Protein Research Articles

Celecoxib exhibits an anti-gastric cancer effect by targeting focal adhesion and leukocyte transendothelial migration-associated genes

Gastric cancer (GC) is a prevalent cancer, which remains incurable, and therefore requires an alternative treatment method. Celecoxib is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug that targets cyclooxygenase-2, and exhibits anticancer effects. The present study aimed to investigate the anti-GC mechanism of celecoxib using bioinformatics methods. Gene expression datasets GSE56807 (GC tissues and normal gastric tissues) and GSE54657 (celecoxib-treated and non-treated human GC epithelial AGS cells) were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Two groups of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using limma package in R language. The criterion for GSE56807 was a false discovery rate of <0.05, while that for GSE54657 was P<0.01. Overlapping DEGs from the two datasets were screened out. Subsequently, pathway enrichment analysis was performed using Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery software (P<0.1; gene count ≥2). In addition, the protein-protein interactions (PPIs) among the overlapped DEGs were obtained based on IntAct, Database of Interacting Proteins, Biomolecular Interaction Network Database and Human Protein Reference Database. Finally, a PPI network was visualized using Cytoscape software. A total of 137 overlapped DEGs were obtained, and DEGs with opposite regulation directions in the two datasets were significantly enriched in focal adhesion and leukocyte transendothelial migration. Subsequently, a PPI network of overlapped DEGs was constructed. Comprehensively, a total of 8 key DEGs [cysteine and glycine rich protein 1 (CSRP1), thrombospondin 1 (THBS1), myosin light chain 9 (MYL9), filamin A (FLNA), actinin alpha 1 (ACTN1), vinculin (VCL), laminin subunit gamma 2 (LAMC2) and claudin 1 (CLDN1)] were upregulated in GC tissues and downregulated in celecoxib-treated cells. In conclusion, celecoxib may exhibit anti-GC effects by suppressing the expression of CSRP1, THBS1, MYL9, FLNA, ACTN1, VCL, LAMC2 and CLDN1, and inhibiting leukocyte transendothelial migration and focal adhesion. However, relevant experiments are required to confirm the conclusion of the present study.

Clinical features, spectrum of causal genetic mutations and outcome of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in South Africans.

SummaryBackgroundLittle is known about the clinical characteristics, spectrum of causal genetic mutations and outcome of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in Africans. The objective of this study was to delineate the clinical and genetic features and outcome of HCM in African patients.MethodsInformation on clinical presentation, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic findings, and outcome of cases with HCM was collected from the Cardiac Clinic at Groote Schuur Hospital over a mean duration of follow up of 9.1 ± 3.4 years. Genomic DNA was screened for mutations in 15 genes that cause HCM, i.e. cardiac myosinbinding protein C (MYBPC3), cardiac β-myosin heavy chain (MYH7), cardiac troponin T2 (TNNT2), cardiac troponin I (TNNI3), regulatory light chain of myosin (MYL2), essential light chain of myosin (MYL3), tropomyosin 1 (TPM1), phospholamban (PLN), α-actin (ACTC1), cysteine and glycine-rich protein 3 (CSRP3), AMP-activated protein kinase (PRKAG2), α-galactosidase (GLA), four-and-a-half LIM domains 1 (FHL1), lamin A/C (LMNA) and lysosomeassociated membrane protein 2 (LAMP2). Survival and its predictors were analysed using the Kaplan–Meier and Cox proportional hazards regression methods, respectively.ResultsForty-three consecutive patients [mean age 38.5 ± 14.3 years; 25 (58.1%) male; and 13 (30.2%) black African] were prospectively enrolled in the study from January 1996 to December 2012. Clinical presentation was similar to that reported in other studies. The South African founder mutations that cause HCM were not found in the 42 probands. Ten of 35 index cases (28.6%) tested for mutations in 15 genes had disease-causing mutations in MYH7 (six cases or 60%) and MYBPC3 (four cases or 40%). No disease-causing mutation was found in the other 13 genes screened. The annual mortality rate was 2.9% per annum and overall survival was 74% at 10 years, which was similar to the general South African population. Cox’s proportional hazards regression showed that survival was predicted by New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class at last visit (p = 0.026), but not by the presence of a disease-causing mutation (p = 0.474).ConclusionsComprehensive genetic screening was associated with a 29% yield of causal genetic mutations in South African HCM cases, all in MYH7 and MBPC3 genes. A quarter of the patients had died after a decade of follow up, with NYHA functional class serving as a predictor of survival.

Aberrant Glycosylation in the Left Ventricle and Plasma of Rats with Cardiac Hypertrophy and Heart Failure.

Targeted proteomics focusing on post-translational modifications, including glycosylation, is a useful strategy for discovering novel biomarkers. To apply this strategy effectively to cardiac hypertrophy and resultant heart failure, we aimed to characterize glycosylation profiles in the left ventricle and plasma of rats with cardiac hypertrophy. Dahl salt-sensitive hypertensive rats, a model of hypertension-induced cardiac hypertrophy, were fed a high-salt (8% NaCl) diet starting at 6 weeks. As a result, they exhibited cardiac hypertrophy at 12 weeks and partially impaired cardiac function at 16 weeks compared with control rats fed a low-salt (0.3% NaCl) diet. Gene expression analysis revealed significant changes in the expression of genes encoding glycosyltransferases and glycosidases. Glycoproteome profiling using lectin microarrays indicated upregulation of mucin-type O-glycosylation, especially disialyl-T, and downregulation of core fucosylation on N-glycans, detected by specific interactions with Amaranthus caudatus and Aspergillus oryzae lectins, respectively. Upregulation of plasma α-l-fucosidase activity was identified as a biomarker candidate for cardiac hypertrophy, which is expected to support the existing marker, atrial natriuretic peptide and its related peptides. Proteomic analysis identified cysteine and glycine-rich protein 3, a master regulator of cardiac muscle function, as an O-glycosylated protein with altered glycosylation in the rats with cardiac hypertrophy, suggesting that alternations in O-glycosylation affect its oligomerization and function. In conclusion, our data provide evidence of significant changes in glycosylation pattern, specifically mucin-type O-glycosylation and core defucosylation, in the pathogenesis of cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure, suggesting that they are potential biomarkers for these diseases.

Separation of glycine-rich proteins from sea hare eggs and their anti-cancer activity against U937 leukemia cell line.

The present study was designed to investigate the anti-cancer effects of Sea hare eggs (SE) in U937 cells and its major active components. The aqueous extract of SE (ASE), which contained the highest protein content, dose-dependently inhibited the cancer cell's growth (IC50 value, 10.42 ± 0.5 µg/mL). Additionally, ASE markedly caused DNA damage by inducing apoptotic body formation, DNA fragmentation, and accumulation of sub-G1 DNA contents. ASE induced apoptosis by activating caspase-3 and 9 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) by regulating the expression of Bcl-2/Bax. Moreover, among its molecular weight fractions, the > 30 kDa fraction showed the highest cell-growth-inhibitory effects, which was inhibited by heat treatment. Furthermore, the > 30 kDa fraction had markedly higher glycine content than the ASE. The presence of two protein bands at around 16 and 32 kDa was identified. In addition, two fractions, F1 and F2, were obtained using anion-exchange chromatography, with the F1 having an improved cell-growth-inhibitory effect than the > 30 kDa fraction. Taken together, these results suggest that the ASE contains glycine-rich proteins, including the active 16 and 32 kDa proteins, which account for its anti-cancer effects by inducing apoptosis via regulation of the mitochondrial pathway.

Comparative proteomic analysis provides new insights into ear leaf senescence of summer maize (Zea mays L.) under field condition

As the most important organ in plant photosynthesis, the leaf plays an important role in plant growth and development. Leaf senescence is associated with fundamental changes in the proteome. To research the molecular mechanisms of leaf senescence, protein expression in senescing maize ear leaves grown under field conditions was analyzed using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/TOF MS). A total of 60 senescence-associated proteins were identified. The identified proteins are involved in many biological processes, especially energy, metabolism and protein synthesis. Several of the identified proteins have not been previously reported as senescence-associated, including glycine-rich RNA-binding protein.

Diverse roles of glycine-rich RNA-binding protein 7 in the response of camelina (Camelina sativa) to abiotic stress

Camelina sativa L. is an oilseed crop used as a potential low-cost biofuel resource. Despite the economic and agricultural benefits of this crop, studies demonstrating the physiological and genetic response of camelina to changing environmental conditions are limited. In this study, three stress-responsive glycine-rich RNA-binding proteins (GRPs) in camelina—named CsGRP7a, CsGRP7b, and CsGRP7c—were isolated, and their functional roles in stress responses were characterized. The three CsGRP7 genes had similar nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences, and contained an N-terminal RNA-recognition motif and a C-terminal glycine-rich region. The CsGRP7 genes were ubiquitously expressed in all plant tissues, and CsGRP7 proteins were localized to both the cytoplasm and the nucleus. The expression of CsGRP7 genes was markedly upregulated by cold stress, whereas their expression was only slightly affected by salt or dehydration stress. Analysis of CsGRP7a-expressing transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana and camelina plants revealed that CsGRP7a plays a positive role in cold stress tolerance, but a negative role in salt or drought stress tolerance. All three CsGRP7s harbored RNA chaperone activity. Collectively, these data indicate that the stress-responsive CsGRP7s harbor RNA chaperone activity and play different roles in the plant response to abiotic stresses.

Structural characterization of tick cement cones collected from in vivo and artificial membrane blood-fed Lone Star ticks (Amblyomma americanum)

The Lone Star tick, Amblyomma americanum, is endemic to the southeastern United States and capable of transmitting pathogenic diseases and causing non-pathogenic conditions. To remain firmly attached to the host, the tick secretes a proteinaceous matrix termed the cement cone which hardens around the tick’s mouthparts to assist in the attachment of the tick as well as to protect the mouthparts from the host immune system. Cement cones collected from ticks on a host are commonly contaminated with host skin and hair making analysis of the cone difficult. To reduce the contamination found in the cement cone, we have adapted an artificial membrane feeding system used to feed long mouthpart ticks. Cones collected from in vivo and membrane fed ticks are analyzed to determine changes in the cone morphology. Comparisons of the cement cones using light microscopy shows similar structures and color however using scanning electron microscopy the cones have drastically different structures. The in vivo cones contain fibrils, sheets, and are heavily textured whereas cones from membrane fed ticks are remarkably smooth with no distinct structures. Analysis of the secondary protein structures using FTIR-ATR show both in vivo and membrane fed cement cones contain β sheets but only in vivo cement cones contain helical protein structures. Additionally, proteomic analysis using LC–MS/MS identifies many proteins including glycine rich proteins, metalloproteases, and protease inhibitors. Proteomic analysis of the cones identified both secreted and non-secreted tick proteins. Artificial membrane feeding is a suitable model for increased collection of cement cones for proteomic analysis however, structurally there are significant differences.

Characterization of Glycine Rich Proteins in Amblyomma americanum

BackgroundThe feeding habits of ticks require extended attachment of the tick on the host. This extended interaction with the host's immune system requires the tick to shield itself by modulating the host immune response with the use of multiple families of pharmacologically active compounds. Glycine‐rich proteins are secreted from the salivary glands into the host where they may have multiple functions including: attachment (proteinaceous cement matrix surrounding the mouthparts), anti‐hemostasis (block blood clotting factors), anti‐inflammatory (prevent pro‐inflammatory signals or induce anti‐inflammatory signals), or anti‐microbial (prevent the growth or establishment of microbial organisms).MethodsRNA‐seq transcriptome was used to select GRPs of interest. The gene expression for each GRP was measured throughout the bloodmeal. RNA interference of a GRP gene was used to determine gene function and to measure compensatory mechanisms. In vitro feeding apparatus was developed and comparative structural information of the tick cement cones was collected using SEM and FT‐IR.ResultsNine GRPs selected from the transcriptome showed varying levels of expression throughout the full bloodmeal. Knockdown of a single GRP resulted in no phenotypic change due to suggested compensatory mechanisms. In vitro feeding apparatus supports tick feeding through female engorgement. Comparison of cement cones reveals differences in structure but not composition.ConclusionThis study shows the redundant nature of GRPs found in the tick sialome. Although no changes are noted in the knockdown ticks, a network of GRP compensation is revealed. Further analysis of the tick cement cone gives new insight into the secondary structure of the cement proteins. Allowing for a better understanding of their composition.Support or Funding InformationThis work was funded by NSF MS‐EPSCoR Seed Grant EPS 0903787 and EPS 1006883.

Analysis of the embryo proteome of sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) seeds reveals a distinct class of proteins regulating dormancy release

Acer pseudoplatanus seeds are characterized by a deep physiological embryo dormancy that requires a few weeks of cold stratification in order to promote germination. Understanding the function of proteins and their related metabolic pathways, in conjunction with the plant hormones implicated in the breaking of seed dormancy, would expand our knowledge pertaining to this process. In this study, a proteomic approach was used to analyze the changes occurring in seeds in response to cold stratification, which leads to dormancy release. In addition, the involvement of abscisic (ABA) and gibberellic acids (GA) was also examined. Fifty-three proteins showing significant changes were identified by mass spectrometry. An effect of ABA on protein variation was observed at the beginning of stratification, while the influence of GA on protein abundance was observed during the middle phase of stratification. The majority of proteins associated with dormancy breaking in the presence of only water, and also ABA or GA, were classified as being involved in metabolism and genetic information processing. For metabolic-related proteins, the effect of ABA on protein abundance was stimulatory for half of the proteins and inhibitory for half of the proteins. On the other hand, the effect on genetic information processing related proteins was stimulatory. GA was found to upregulate both metabolic-related and genetic information processing-related proteins. While seed dormancy breaking depends on proteins involved in a variety of processes, proteins associated with methionine metabolism (adenosine kinase, methionine synthase) and glycine-rich RNA binding proteins appear to be of particular importance.

AtGRP3 Is Implicated in Root Size and Aluminum Response Pathways in Arabidopsis.

AtGRP3 is a glycine-rich protein (GRP) from Arabidopsis thaliana shown to interact with the receptor-like kinase AtWAK1 in yeast, in vitro and in planta. In this work, phenotypic analyses using transgenic plants were performed in order to better characterize this GRP. Plants of two independent knockout alleles of AtGRP3 develop longer roots suggesting its involvement in root size determination. Confocal microscopy analysis showed an abnormal cell division and elongation in grp3-1 knockout mutants. Moreover, we also show that grp3-1 exhibits an enhanced Aluminum (Al) tolerance, a feature also described in AtWAK1 overexpressing plants. Together, these results implicate AtGRP3 function root size determination during development and in Al stress.

Mutations in Subunits of the Activating Signal Cointegrator 1 Complex Are Associated with Prenatal Spinal Muscular Atrophy and Congenital Bone Fractures

Transcriptional signal cointegrators associate with transcription factors or nuclear receptors and coregulate tissue-specific gene transcription. We report on recessive loss-of-function mutations in two genes (TRIP4 and ASCC1) that encode subunits of the nuclear activating signal cointegrator 1 (ASC-1) complex. We used autozygosity mapping and whole-exome sequencing to search for pathogenic mutations in four families. Affected individuals presented with prenatal-onset spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), multiple congenital contractures (arthrogryposis multiplex congenita), respiratory distress, and congenital bone fractures. We identified homozygous and compound-heterozygous nonsense and frameshift TRIP4 and ASCC1 mutations that led to a truncation or the entire absence of the respective proteins and cosegregated with the disease phenotype. Trip4 and Ascc1 have identical expression patterns in 17.5-day-old mouse embryos with high expression levels in the spinal cord, brain, paraspinal ganglia, thyroid, and submandibular glands. Antisense morpholino-mediated knockdown of either trip4 or ascc1 in zebrafish disrupted the highly patterned and coordinated process of α-motoneuron outgrowth and formation of myotomes and neuromuscular junctions and led to a swimming defect in the larvae. Immunoprecipitation of the ASC-1 complex consistently copurified cysteine and glycine rich protein 1 (CSRP1), a transcriptional cofactor, which is known to be involved in spinal cord regeneration upon injury in adult zebrafish. ASCC1 mutant fibroblasts downregulated genes associated with neurogenesis, neuronal migration, and pathfinding (SERPINF1, DAB1, SEMA3D, SEMA3A), as well as with bone development (TNFRSF11B, RASSF2, STC1). Our findings indicate that the dysfunction of a transcriptional coactivator complex can result in a clinical syndrome affecting the neuromuscular system.

Overexpression of AtGRDP2 gene in common bean hairy roots generates vigorous plants with enhanced salt tolerance

Proteins with glycine-rich repeats have been identified in plants, mammalians, fungi, and bacteria. Plant glycine-rich proteins have been associated to stress response. Previously, we reported that the Arabidopsis thalianaAtGRDP2 gene, which encodes a protein with a glycine-rich domain, plays a role in growth and development of A. thaliana and Lactuca sativa. In this study, we generated composite Phaseolus vulgaris plants that overexpress the AtGRDP2 gene in hairy roots generated by Agrobacterium rhizogenes. We observed that hairy roots harboring the AtGRDP2 gene developed more abundant and faster-growing roots than control hairy roots generated with the wild type A. rhizogenes. In addition, composite common bean plants overexpressing the AtGRDP2 gene in roots were more tolerant to salt stress showing increments in their fresh and dry weight. Our data further support the role of plant GRDP genes in development and stress response.

Proteome Analysis of Disease Resistance against Ralstonia solanacearum in Potato Cultivar CT206-10.

Potato is one of the most important crops worldwide. Its commercial cultivars are highly susceptible to many fungal and bacterial diseases. Among these, bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum causes significant yield loss. In the present study, integrated proteomics and genomics approaches were used in order to identify bacterial wilt resistant genes from Rs resistance potato cultivar CT-206-10. 2-DE and MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS analysis identified eight differentially abundant proteins including glycine-rich RNA binding protein (GRP), tomato stress induced-1 (TSI-1) protein, pathogenesis-related (STH-2) protein and pentatricopeptide repeat containing (PPR) protein in response to Rs infection. Further, semi-quantitative RT-PCR identified up-regulation in transcript levels of all these genes upon Rs infection. Taken together, our results showed the involvement of the identified proteins in the Rs stress tolerance in potato. In the future, it would be interesting to raise the transgenic plants to further validate their involvement in resistance against Rs in potato.

Hyper-production of large proteins of spider dragline silk MaSp2 by Escherichia coli via synthetic biology approach

Spider dragline silk exhibits excellent mechanical properties that make it a promising protein polymer for industrial and biomedical applications. Since farming spiders is not feasible due to their highly territorial nature, recombinant production of dragline silk proteins in a foreign host has received great attention. However, their production titer remains low, because efficient expression of very large, highly repetitive, glycine-rich silk proteins is a challenge. This work demonstrates the design and high-level production of large dragline silk proteins of major ampullate spidroin 2 (MaSp2) in Escherichia coli by synthetic biology approach. The expression levels of MaSp2 with molecular weight of 28.3–256.5kDa were significantly elevated by down-shifting the induction temperature. The beneficial effect was found to be at least partially attributed to the improved plasmid maintenance in the recombinant cells. Combination of induction temperature downshift with the glycyl-tRNA pool increase in E. coli led to enhanced biosynthesis of glycine-rich silk proteins. A high production titer of about 3.6gl−1 of a 201.6-kDa MaSp2 protein was achieved in a 3-L fed-batch bioreactor, which was the highest as reported. The developed approach may be useful to cost-effective large-scale production of silk proteins.

Molecular cloning, characterization and tissue specificity of the expression of the ovine CSRP2 and CSRP3 genes from Small-tail Han sheep (Ovis aries)

Two genes, cysteine- and glycine-rich protein 2 (CSRP2) and cysteine- and glycine-rich protein 3 (CSRP3), play important roles in tissue-specific cell growth and development. However, few CSRP2 and CSRP3 genes have been functionally characterized in sheep. In this study, the full-length cDNAs of the CSRP2 and CSRP3 genes were cloned from Small-tail Han sheep by rapid amplification of cDNA ends-PCR. The GenBank accession numbers of the full-length CSRP2 and CSRP3 cDNA sequences are KJ743957 and KJ743958, respectively. The full-length cDNA of ovine CSRP2 was 917bp, with a 582-bp open reading frame encoding 193 amino acids. The complete ovine CSRP3 cDNA was 917bp, with a 585-bp open reading frame encoding 194 amino acids. Alignment and phylogenetic analyses revealed that their amino acid sequences are highly similar to those of other vertebrates, all of which contain two conserved LIM-only domains and a relatively conserved nuclear targeting sequence. To further validate the functions of the two genes, their mRNA expression patterns were evaluated in various Small-tail Han and Dorper sheep tissues using qRT-PCR analyses. CSRP2 was mainly detected in the aorta, whereas CSRP3 was highly concentrated in the heart and the muscle. CSRP3 was expressed to a higher level in the hearts of Small-tail Han sheep than in Dorper sheep (P<0.05). However, the opposite was found in the muscle (the longissimus dorsi and biceps femoris); CSRP3 was expressed to a higher level in Dorper sheep than in Small-tail Han sheep (P<0.05). We quantified the CRP3 protein (coded by the CSRP3 gene) levels in different tissues in Small-tail Han and Dorper sheep. We also detected a putative isoform of the CRP3 protein in sheep, which was significantly different in the heart tissue of the two breeds (P<0.05). The expression patterns of the two genes' mRNAs and CRP3 protein showed clear tissue specificity in both sheep breeds.

Recombinant production of a shell matrix protein in Escherichia coli and its application to the biomimetic synthesis of spherulitic calcite crystals.

To overcome the limited production capability of shell matrix proteins and efficiently conduct in vitro CaCO3 biomineralization studies, a putative recombinant shell matrix protein was prepared and characterized. A glycine-rich protein (GRP_BA) was found in Pinctada fucata as a putative shell matrix protein (NCBI reference sequence; BAA20465). It was genetically redesigned for the production in Escherichia coli. The recombinant protein was obtained in a 400ml shake-flask culture at approx. 30mgl(-1) with a purity of>95%. It efficiently formed a complex with Ca(2+). Ca(2+)-induced agglomeration was like other calcification-related proteins. Spherulitic calcite micro-particles, 20-30µm diam. with rosette- and sphere-like structures were synthesized in the presence of the recombinant shell protein, which could be formed by stacking and/or aggregation of calcite nanograins and the bound protein. Recombinant production of a shell matrix protein could overcome potential difficulties associated with the limited amount of protein available for biomineralization studies and provide opportunities to fabricate biominerals in practical aspects.

GRP-3 and KAPP, encoding interactors of WAK1, negatively affect defense responses induced by oligogalacturonides and local response to wounding.

Conserved microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) and damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) act as danger signals to activate the plant immune response. These molecules are recognized by surface receptors that are referred to as pattern recognition receptors. Oligogalacturonides (OGs), DAMPs released from the plant cell wall homogalacturonan, have also been proposed to act as local signals in the response to wounding. The Arabidopsis Wall-Associated Kinase 1 (WAK1), a receptor of OGs, has been described to form a complex with a cytoplasmic plasma membrane-localized kinase-associated protein phosphatase (KAPP) and a glycine-rich protein (GRP-3) that we find localized mainly in the cell wall and, in a small part, on the plasma membrane. By using Arabidopsis plants overexpressing WAK1, and both grp-3 and kapp null insertional mutant and overexpressing plants, we demonstrate a positive function of WAK1 and a negative function of GRP-3 and KAPP in the OG-triggered expression of defence genes and the production of an oxidative burst. The three proteins also affect the local response to wounding and the basal resistance against the necrotrophic pathogen Botrytis cinerea. GRP-3 and KAPP are likely to function in the phasing out of the plant immune response.

Rice Diversity Panel Mapping for Identifying Genetics Behind Leaf Vein Density Trait in Rice (&amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Oryza sativa&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; L.)

A screen of rice genotypes was carried out on a total of 327 genotypes of the rice diversity panel for leaf vein density. Identifying locations of genes that impart to leaf vein density in a quantitative way should capable the using of these genes in plant breeding and accelerate producing C4 rice plant. Finding of genotypes of rice that have less distances between veins is still the challenge of the plant breeders. Screen was shown significant variations in leaf vein density. Quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for the leaf vein density trait were identified by using Efficient Mixed Model Analysis (EMMA). QTLs were considered reportable if they had P values (below 0.0001). The most significant Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) associations (EMMA 1.3, EMMA 1.8 and EMMA 10.1) were in each of the rice chromosomes 1 and 10 respectively. All genes positioned 200 kb around associations were selected. The candidacy of the most promising were NADP-dependent malic enzyme, chloroplast precursor (LOC_Os01g09320; ras-related protein, putative, expressed (LOC_Os01g51700); 60S acidic ribosomal protein (LOC_Os01g09510); Auxin-responsive Aux/IAA gene family member (LOC_Os01g09450; myb-related transcription activator, putative, expressed (LOC_Os01g09280); glycine-rich protein (LOC_Os01g09246); phosphofructokinase (LOC_Os01g09570); oxidoreductase, short chain dehydrogenase/reductase family (SDR) LOC_Os10g31780), which have been expressed in leaf tissue and requisite to be investigated further.

Cloning and abiotic stress resistance analyses of a new proline-glycine-alaninehistidine-rich protein gene from Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.

Sweet potato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.] is one of the top six most important crops in the world in terms of production. It has the capacity to tolerate marginal growing conditions better than most other crops. In this study, a proline- and glycine-rich protein encoding gene, IbPGAHRP1, was isolated and characterized from the transcriptome of sweet potato cultivar Xushu 18. Sequence analyses showed that proline, glycine, alanine, and histidine account for 62.6% of the total amino acid residues. Two proline-rich tandem repeats, an alanine-rich repeat, a histidine-rich tandem repeat, and five XYPP motifs were present in IbPGAHRP1. Sequence similarity analysis showed that IbPGAHRP1 shared 41% similarity with GmGPRP4, indicating that IbPGAHRP1 should be a GPRP-like protein and play an important role in stress resistance. RT-PCR results showed that IbPGAHRP1 was specifically expressed in the sweet potato flower. In vivo expression of IbPGAHRP1 demonstrated that it enhanced the cold and drought resistance in the yeast recombinant, but could not trigger the same changes in Escherichia coli. This study revealed that IbPGAHRP1 is a flower-specific gene and should play an important role in response to abiotic stresses.

Overexpression of a glycine-rich protein gene in Lablab purpureus improves abiotic stress tolerance

Overexpression of a glycine-rich protein gene in Lablab purpureus improves abiotic stress tolerance