Cloning the gene of γ-tocopherol methyltransferase (γ-TMT) from alfalfa and expression analysis in adverse situations

Abstract

Abstract: Alfalfa plays an important role in livestock production and is the most widely cultivated forage plant in China. γ-tocopherol methyltransferase (γ-TMT) is an important enzyme in the vitamin E synthetic pathway. γ-TMT catalyzes the conversion from γ-tocopherol to α-tocopherol which changes the vitamin E composition so that it can be easily absorbed by humans and animals. The full-length cDNA of alfalfa γ-TMT was cloned by RACE-PCR and termed MsTMT. Bioinformatic analysis showed that the full-length cDNA of this gene was 1 306 bp, including a 939 bp open reading frame (ORF), which encoded a polypeptid of 312 amino acids. MsTMT belongs to the AdoMet-MTases, which possess an adenosine deaminase signal (SLSTDDP) and two conserved SAM-domains (XXDXGCGIG, VXXPGGXXIX). Real-time PCR results revealed that the MsTMT gene is expressed in all organs of alfalfa, but especially in the leaves. The expression level of MsTMT in leaves increased with NaCl, PEG and dark stress, but decreased with cooling stress. Exogenous ABA did not affect the gene expression.

CLC Number:

JIA Hui-li, WANG Xue-min, GAO Hong-wen, DONG Jie, WANG Yun-qi, LIU Jian-ning, SHI Yong-hong. Cloning the gene of γ-tocopherol methyltransferase (γ-TMT) from alfalfa and expression analysis in adverse situations[J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2012, 21(6): 198-206.

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