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Homologous cloning, characterization and expression of a new halophyte phytochelatin synthase gene in Suaeda salsa

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Abstract

The halophyte Suaeda salsa can grow in heavy metal-polluted areas along intertidal zones having high salinity. Since phytochelatins can eff ectively chelate heavy metals, it was hypothesized that S. salsa possessed a phytochelatin synthase (PCS) gene. In the present study, the cDNA of PCS was obtained from S. salsa (designated as SsPCS) using homologous cloning and the rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). A sequence analysis revealed that SsPCS consisted of 1 916 bp nucleotides, encoding a polypeptide of 492 amino acids with one phytochelatin domain and one phytochelatin C domain. A similarity analysis suggested that SsPCS shared up to a 58.6% identity with other PCS proteins and clustered with PCS proteins from eudicots. There was a new kind of metal ion sensor motif in its C-terminal domain. The SsPCS transcript was more highly expressed in elongated and fibered roots and stems (P<0.05) than in leaves. Lead and mercury exposure significantly enhanced the mRNA expression of SsPCS (P<0.05). To the best of our knowledge, SsPCS is the second PCS gene cloned from a halophyte, and it might contain a diff erent metal sensing capability than the first PCS from Thellungiella halophila. This study provided a new view of halophyte PCS genes in heavy metal tolerance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Coastal Zone Environmental Processes, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research (YIC), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Coastal Zone Environmental Processes, YICCAS, Yantai, 264003, China

    Ming Cong  (丛明), Jianmin Zhao  (赵建民) & Huifeng Wu  (吴惠丰)

  2. Biology School of Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, China

    Jiasen Lü  (吕家森) & Zhiming Ren  (任志明)

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  1. Ming Cong  (丛明)
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  2. Jianmin Zhao  (赵建民)
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  3. Jiasen Lü  (吕家森)
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  4. Zhiming Ren  (任志明)
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  5. Huifeng Wu  (吴惠丰)
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Correspondence to Huifeng Wu  (吴惠丰).

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Supported by the 100 Talents Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Key Technology R&D Program of Shandong Province (No. 2012GGA06032)

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Cong, M., Zhao, J., Lü, J. et al. Homologous cloning, characterization and expression of a new halophyte phytochelatin synthase gene in Suaeda salsa . Chin. J. Ocean. Limnol. 34, 1034–1043 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-016-4382-0

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