Soybean 14-3-3 gene family: identification and molecular characterization.
The 14-3-3s are a group of proteins that are ubiquitously found in eukaryotes. Plant 14-3-3 proteins are encoded by a large multigene family and are involved in signaling pathways to regulate plant development and protection from stress. Recent studies in Arabidopsis and rice have demonstrated the isoform specificity in 14-3-3s and their client protein interactions. However, detailed characterization of 14-3-3 gene family in legumes has not been reported. In this study, soybean 14-3-3 proteins were identified and their molecular characterization performed. Data mining of soybean genome and expressed sequence tag databases identified 18 14-3-3 genes, of them 16 are transcribed. All 16 SGF14s have higher expression in embryo tissues suggesting their potential role in seed development. Subcellular localization of all transcribed SGF14s demonstrated that 14-3-3 proteins in soybean have isoform specificity, however, some overlaps were also observed between closely related isoforms. A comparative analysis of SGF14s with Arabidopsis and rice 14-3-3s indicated that SGF14s also group into epsilon and non-epsilon classes. However, unlike Arabidopsis and rice 14-3-3s, SGF14s contained only one kind of gene structure belonging to each class. Overall, soybean consists of the largest family of 14-3-3 proteins characterized to date. Our results provide a solid framework for further investigations into the role of SGF14s and their involvement in legume-specific functions.
Southern Crop Protection and Food Research Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 1391 Sandford Street, London, ON, N5V 4T3, Canada.
Xuyan
X
Li
Sangeeta
S
Dhaubhadel
D048948:14-3-3 Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D030541:Databases, Genetic; D019281:Dimerization; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D017343:Genes, Plant; D018745:Genome, Plant / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family; D010802:Phylogeny; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D013025:Glycine max / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D048948:14-3-3 Proteins; D020033:Protein Isoforms