title: Cloning of the Aegiceras corniculatum class I chitinase gene (AcCHI I) and the response of AcCHI I mRNA expression to cadmium stress.
abstract: Chitinases in terrestrial plants have been reported these are involved in heavy metal tolerance/detoxification. This is the first attempt to reveal chitinase gene (AcCHI I) and its function on metal detoxification in mangroves Aegiceras corniculatum. RT-PCR and RACE techniques were used to clone AcCHI I, while real-time quantitative PCR was employed to assess AcCHI I mRNA expressions in response to Cadmium (Cd). The deduced AcCHI I protein consists of 316 amino acids, including a signal peptide region, a chitin-binding domain (CBD) and a catalytic domain. Protein homology modeling was performed to identify potential features in AcCHI I. The CBD structure of AcCHI I might be critical for metal tolerance/homeostasis of the plant. Clear tissue-specific differences in AcCHI I expression were detected, with higher transcript levels detected in leaves. Results demonstrated that a short duration of Cd exposure (e.g., 3 days) promoted AcCHI I expression in roots. Upregulated expression was also detected in leaves under 10 mg/kg Cd concentration stress. The present study demonstrates that AcCHI I may play an important role in Cd tolerance/homeostasis in the plant. Further studies of the AcCHI I protein, gene overexpression, the promoter and upstream regulation will be necessary for clarifying the functions of AcCHI I.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Tropical Oceanography, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510301, China.|Daya Bay Marine Biology Research Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518121, China.
authors.forename: Li-Ying
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Tropical Oceanography, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510301, China. yswang@scsio.ac.cn.|Daya Bay Marine Biology Research Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518121, China. yswang@scsio.ac.cn.
authors.forename: You-Shao
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Tropical Oceanography, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510301, China.|Daya Bay Marine Biology Research Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518121, China.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Tropical Oceanography, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510301, China.
authors.forename: Jing-Ping
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800, Miden, Pinang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Foong Swee
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Yeok
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D002104:Cadmium / Q000633:toxicity*; D002688:Chitinases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000187:drug effects*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D021141:Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques; D010802:Phylogeny; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D029623:Primulaceae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D010940:Plant Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002104:Cadmium; D002688:Chitinases; C119825:chitinase C
keywords: Aegiceras corniculatum; Cd; Chitinase; Cloning; Expression; Mangrove plant