title: Cloning of a cDNA encoding a cystatin from grain amaranth (Amaranthus hypochondriacus) showing a tissue-specific expression that is modified by germination and abiotic stress.
abstract: A cDNA, encoding a cysteine protease inhibitor (AhCPI), was isolated from an immature seed cDNA library of grain amaranth (Amaranthus hypochondriacus L.) and characterized. It encoded a polypeptide of 247 amino acids (aa), including a putative N-terminal signal peptide. Other relevant regions found in its sequence included the G and PW conserved aa motifs, the consensus LARFAV sequence for phytocystatins and the reactive site QVVAG. The predicted aa sequence for AhCPI showed a significant homology to other plant cystatins. Gene expression analyses indicated that AhCPI was constitutively expressed in mature seeds, and gradually decreased during germination. In vegetative tissues, AhCPI was expressed in the radicle and hypocotyls of seedlings and in the stems and roots of young plantlets. Its expression in roots and stems increased substantially in response to water deficit, salinity-, cold- and heat-stress, whereas heat-stress induced a rapid and transient accumulation of AhCPI transcripts in leaves. The results obtained were suggestive of multiple roles for AhCPI in grain amaranth, acting as a regulator of seed germination and as a protective agent against diverse types of abiotic stress, which induced this gene in a tissue- and stress-specific manner. The work herewith described reports a novel, and apparently, single cystatin protein in which, in agreement with other plant model systems, could have a regulatory role in germination, and further expands previous findings linking the accumulation of protease inhibitors, mostly of the serine proteinase type, with protection against (a)biotic stress in A. hypochondriacus.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biotecnología y Bioquímica, Cinvestav, Km. 9.6, Libramiento Norte, 36500, A.P. 629 Irapuato, Gto. Mexico, Mexico. svaldes@ira.cinvestav.mx
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Valdés-Rodríguez
authors.forename: Armando
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guerrero-Rangel
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Melgoza-Villagómez
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chagolla-López
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Delgado-Vargas
authors.forename: Norma
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Martínez-Gallardo
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Hernández
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Délano-Frier
mesh_terms: D027721:Amaranthus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D015891:Cystatins / Q000235:genetics*; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000235:genetics; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000187:drug effects; D018525:Germination / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D018749:RNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D036226:Seedlings / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D012639:Seeds / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D015891:Cystatins; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D010940:Plant Proteins; D018749:RNA, Plant; D012965:Sodium Chloride