Plant Molecular Biology Reporter

, Volume 29, Issue 2, pp 389–403 | Cite as

Identification and Characterization of a Multigene Family Encoding Germin-Like Proteins in Cultivated Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

  • Xiaoping Chen
  • Ming Li Wang
  • Corley Holbrook
  • Albert Culbreath
  • Xuanqiang Liang
  • Tim Brenneman
  • Baozhu Guo
Article
First Online:

Abstract

Germin-like proteins (GLPs) play diversified roles in plant development and defense response. Here, we identified 36 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) encoding GLPs from peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.). After assembly, these ESTs were integrated into eight unigenes named AhGLP1 to AhGLP8, of which, three (AhGLP1-3) were comprised 14, ten, and seven EST clones, respectively, whereas the remaining ones were associated with one single clone. The length of the deduced amino acid (AA) residues ranged from 208 to 223 AAs except for AhGLP6 and AhGLP8, which were incomplete at the carboxyl terminus. All of the AhGLPs contained a possible N-terminal signal peptide that was 17 to 24 residues in length excluding AhGLP7, where there is likely a non-cleavable amino terminus. Phylogenetic analysis showed that these AhGLPs were classified into three subfamilies. Southern blot analysis indicated that AhGLP1 and AhGLP2 likely have multiple copies in the peanut genome. The recombinant mature AhGLP1 and AhGLP2 proteins were successfully expressed in Escherichia coli. The purified AhGLP2 has superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in enzymatic assay, but not oxalate oxidase activity. The SOD activity of AhGLP2 was stable up to 70°C and resistant to hydrogen peroxide, suggesting that AhGLP2 might be a manganese-containing SOD. Furthermore, AhGLP2 could confer E. coli resistance to oxidative damage caused by paraquat, suggesting that the AhGLP2 likely protects peanut plants from reactive oxygen metabolites. Thus, information provided in this study indicates the diverse nature of the peanut GLP family and suggests that some of AhGLPs might be involved in plant defense response.

Keywords

Peanut GLP family Superoxide dismutase Oxalate oxidase Disease resistance 

Abbreviations

GLP

Germin-like protein

SOD

Superoxide dismutase

OXO

Oxalate oxidase

RFLP

Restriction fragment length polymorphism

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Notes

Acknowledgements

The technical assistance of Dr. Zhangying Wang, William Wilson, Jake Fountain, and Thomas An in the laboratory and fields are gratefully acknowledged. This research was supported partially by a grant from China National Natural Science Foundation (No. 30971819) and by Scientific Cooperation Research Program of US Department of Agriculture-Foreign Agricultural Service between US and China, and The Peanut Foundation, and The Georgia Peanut Commission. Mention of trade names or commercial products in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the US Department of Agriculture.

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Copyright information

© ©US Government 2010 2010

Authors and Affiliations

  • Xiaoping Chen
    • 1
    • 2
  • Ming Li Wang
    • 3
  • Corley Holbrook
    • 4
  • Albert Culbreath
    • 1
  • Xuanqiang Liang
    • 2
  • Tim Brenneman
    • 1
  • Baozhu Guo
    • 5
  1. 1.Department of Plant PathologyThe University of GeorgiaTiftonUSA
  2. 2.Crops Research InstituteGuangdong Academy of Agricultural SciencesGuangzhouChina
  3. 3.Plant Genetic Resources Conservation UnitUSDA-ARSGriffinUSA
  4. 4.Crop Genetics and Breeding Research UnitUSDA-ARSTiftonUSA
  5. 5.Crop Protection and Management Research UnitUS Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research ServiceTiftonUSA

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