title: Characterization of Ricinus communis phloem profilin, RcPRO1.
abstract: The mature, functional sieve tube, which forms the conduit for assimilate distribution in higher plants, is dependent upon protein import from the companion cells for maintenance of the phloem long-distance translocation system. Using antibodies raised against proteins present in the sieve-tube exudate of Ricinus communis (castor bean) seedlings, a cDNA was cloned which encoded a putative profilin, termed RcPRO1. Expression and localization studies indicated that RcPRO1 mRNA encodes a phloem profilin, with some expression occurring in epidermal, cortex, pith and xylem tissue. Purified, recombinant RcPRO1 was functionally equivalent to recombinant maize profilin ZmPRO4 in a live cell nuclear displacement assay. The apparent equilibrium dissociation constant for RcPRO1 binding to plant monomeric (G-)actin was lower than the previously characterized maize profilins. Moreover, the affinity of RcPRO1 for poly-L-proline (PLP) was significantly higher than that for recombinant maize profilins. Within the sieve-tube exudate, profilin was present in 15-fold molar excess to actin. The data suggest that actin filament formation is prevented within the assimilate stream. These results are discussed in terms of the unique physiology of the phloem.
authors.affiliation: Section of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis 95616, USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schobert
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gottschalk
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Kovar
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Staiger
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Lucas
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D002367:Ricinus communis / Q000235:genetics*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003285:Contractile Proteins; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D018546:Hypocotyl / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015151:Immunoblotting; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018514:Plant Structures / Q000235:genetics*; D010947:Plants, Toxic; D051304:Profilins; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D003285:Contractile Proteins; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D051304:Profilins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins