title: Cloning and characterization of the nicotianamine synthase gene in Eruca vesicaria subsp sativa.
abstract: Nicotianamine (NA) is a ubiquitous metabolite in plants that bind heavy metals, is crucial for metal homeostasis, and is also an important metal chelator that facilitates long-distance metal transport and sequestration. NA synthesis is catalyzed by the enzyme nicotianamine synthase (NAS). Eruca vesicaria subsp sativa is highly tolerant to Ni, Pb, and Zn. In this study, a gene encoding EvNAS was cloned and characterized in E. vesicaria subsp sativa. The full-length EvNAS cDNA sequence contained a 111-bp 5'-untranslated region (UTR), a 155-bp 3'-UTR, and a 966-bp open reading frame encoding 322-amino acid residues. The EvNAS genomic sequence contained no introns, which is similar to previously reported NAS genes. The deduced translation of EvNAS contained a well-conserved NAS domain (1-279 amino acids) and an LIKI-CGEAEG box identical to some Brassica NAS and to the LIRL-box in most plant NAS, which is essential for DNA binding. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that EvNAS was most closely related to Brassica rapa NAS3 within the Cruciferae, followed by Thlaspi NAS1, Camelina NAS3, and Arabidopsis NAS3. A reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction indicated that EvNAS expression was greatest in the leaves, followed by the flower buds and hypocotyls. EvNAS was moderately expressed in the roots.
authors.affiliation: Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Green Transformation of Bio-Resources, College of Life Science, Hubei University, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Green Transformation of Bio-Resources, College of Life Science, Hubei University, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Green Transformation of Bio-Resources, College of Life Science, Hubei University, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: G Y
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Green Transformation of Bio-Resources, College of Life Science, Hubei University, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Su
authors.affiliation: Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Green Transformation of Bio-Resources, College of Life Science, Hubei University, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhi
authors.affiliation: Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Green Transformation of Bio-Resources, College of Life Science, Hubei University, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Green Transformation of Bio-Resources, College of Life Science, Hubei University, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: X K
authors.initials: XK
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Green Transformation of Bio-Resources, College of Life Science, Hubei University, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: B Q
authors.initials: BQ
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D019883:Alkyl and Aryl Transferases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence / Q000235:genetics*; D019607:Brassicaceae / Q000201:enzymology*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D010802:Phylogeny; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000235:genetics; D018517:Plant Roots
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D007501:Iron; D019883:Alkyl and Aryl Transferases; C118230:nicotianamine synthase