title: Cloning, characterization, and bacterial over-expression of an osmotin-like protein gene from Solanum nigrum L. with antifungal activity against three necrotrophic fungi.
abstract: A new osmotin-like protein gene from Solanum nigrum L. var indica (SindOLP) was cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli. The full-length intron-less gene is 744 bp, encoding a mature protein of 247 amino acids with a molecular mass of 26 kDa. The protein has an N-terminal cleavable signal sequence of 21 amino acids. There is the Thaumatin family signature pattern, with one each of amidation, N-myristoylation, casein kinase II phosphorylation, tyrosine kinase phosphorylation, and protein kinase C phosphorylation sites. Hydropathy plot showed that it has six transmembrane helices. It has antifungal activity and can permeabilize fungal hyphae and spores. SindOLP is most active at pH 8, 25 °C and its antifungal activity is retained after 75 °C for 30 min. SindOLP inhibits fungal spore germination. The protein however lacks glucanase activity. The potential for SindOLP in developing fungus-resistant, transgenic crops is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Applied Mycology and Plant Pathology Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Calcutta, 35, Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata, 700019, India, rohansupriyo@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Supriyo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chowdhury
authors.forename: Arpita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Basu
authors.forename: Surekha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kundu
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005658:Fungi / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D055550:Protein Stability; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D032324:Solanum nigrum / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D010940:Plant Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins