Cloning and characterization of a cowpea seed lipid transfer protein cDNA: expression analysis during seed development and under fungal and cold stresses in seedlings' tissues.

Full Abstract

Lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) are antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) involved in the defense of plants against pathogens. Our group has previously characterized and purified a LTP from cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) seeds which caused the inhibition of growth of fungal pathogens in vitro. The aim of this work was to obtain the cDNA encoding the cowpea LTP and after cloning, to use the cDNA as a probe for studying its expression profile during the development of cowpea seeds. In this work, the N-terminal sequence of the mature LTP peptide from cowpea was used to produce a degenerated oligonucleotide. This primer allowed the amplification of the LTP cDNA by RT-PCR from mRNA of cowpea seeds. The sequence analysis of the cloned cDNA, named VULTP, showed 494 bp which encoded a polypeptide of 91 amino acids. The deduced peptide presented high homology of similarity to plant LTPs of Vigna radiata var. radiate (94%), Prunus domestica (82%) and Zea mays (72%). The expression profile of the VULTP gene in cowpea was analyzed by Northern blot and revealed that the transcript is not accumulated in adult tissues. Conversely, VULTP mRNA is early and strongly accumulated during seed development. The results obtained to seedling of cowpea demonstrate that the VULTP gene presents differential expression in response to different stress. Further studies will be conducted to try to gain better understanding about the physiological role of this gene in cowpea.

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Author information

Author/s: Carvalho, A O (AO); Souza-Filho, G A (GA); Ferreira, B S (BS); Branco, A T (AT); Araújo, I S (IS); Fernandes, K V S (KV); Retamal, C A (CA); Gomes, V M (VM);

Affiliation: Laboratório de Fisiologia e Bioquímica de Microrganismos, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense, Av. Alberto Lamego, 2000, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ 28013-600, Brazil.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB / Société française de physiologie végétale (Plant Physiol Biochem), published in France. (Language: eng)

Reference: -2006 Nov-Dec; vol 44 (issue 11-12) : pp 732-42

Dates: Created 2006/12/22; Completed 2007/02/28; Revised 2008/11/21;

PMID: 17084637, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adaptation, Physiological - genetics
Carrier Proteins - biosynthesis; genetics
Cloning, Molecular
Cold Temperature
DNA, Complementary - genetics

Fabaceae - genetics; metabolism
Fusarium
Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
Plant Diseases - genetics; microbiology
Seeds - genetics; growth & development

Associated Chemicals: Carrier Proteins (0) ; DNA, Complementary (0) ; lipid transfer protein (0)

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