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Molecular Cloning and Characterization of the Light-Harvesting Chlorophyll a/b Gene from the Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan)

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Abstract

Light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b-binding proteins (LHCB) have been implicated in the stress response. In this study, a gene encoding LHCB in the pigeon pea was cloned and characterized. Based on the sequence of a previously obtained 327 bp Est, a full-length 793 bp cDNA was cloned using the rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) method. It was designated CcLHCB1 and encoded a 262 amino acid protein. The calculated molecular weight of the CcLHCB1 protein was 27.89 kDa, and the theoretical isoelectric point was 5.29. Homology search and sequence multi-alignment demonstrated that the CcLHCB1 protein sequence shared a high identity with LHCB from other plants. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that CcLHCB1 was a hydrophobic protein with three transmembrane domains. By fluorescent quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), CcLHCB1 mRNA transcripts were detectable in different tissues (leaf, stem, and root), with the highest level found in the leaf. The expression of CcLHCB1 mRNA in the leaves was up-regulated by drought stimulation and AM inoculation. Our results provide the basis for a better understanding of the molecular organization of LCHB and might be useful for understanding the interaction between plants and microbes in the future.

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Abbreviations

AM:

Arbuscular mycorrhizal

AMF:

AM fungi

CTP:

Chloroplast transit peptide

Est:

Expressed sequence tag

GM:

Glomus mosseae

LHCB:

Light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b-binding proteins

LHC II:

Light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b-binding proteins of photosystem II

ORF:

Open reading frame

RACE:

Rapid amplification of cDNA ends

SSH:

Suppressive subtraction hybridization

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Acknowledgments

The project is supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30860224), and partially from the Core Subject-constructing Program of Third Term of 211 Engineering (kst200904), Scientific Research Foundation for the Returned Overseas Chinese Scholars, State Education Ministry, and Natural Science Foundation of Guizhou Province (20092076).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Plant Resources Conservation and Germplasm Innovation in Mountainous Region and Ministry of Education, Institute of Agro-bioengineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China

    Guang Qiao, Xiao-Peng Wen & Ting Zhang

Authors
  1. Guang Qiao
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  2. Xiao-Peng Wen
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  3. Ting Zhang
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Correspondence to Xiao-Peng Wen.

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Qiao, G., Wen, XP. & Zhang, T. Molecular Cloning and Characterization of the Light-Harvesting Chlorophyll a/b Gene from the Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan). Appl Biochem Biotechnol 177, 1447–1455 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-015-1825-6

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