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Characterization of a type 3 metallothionein isolated from Porteresia coarctata

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Biologia Plantarum

Abstract

Metallothioneins are involved in detoxification of heavy metals. A cDNA encoding type 3 metallothionein (PcMT3) was isolated from the salt stressed leaf cDNA library of Porteresia coarctata (Roxb.) Tateoka (wild rice) that grows well in the heavy metal laden estuarine soils. The PcMT3 cDNA (581 bp) encodes a protein of 64 amino acids. PcMT3 is highly homologous (82 %) to OsMT-I-3a of rice, but is unique from other type 3 plant MTs due to the presence of an additional glycine residue in the C-terminal domain. Analysis of the 5′ upstream region of PcMT3 showed the presence of cis-acting elements like the CG box and STRE previously reported to be involved in gene expression under heavy metal stress. Southern analysis suggested the presence of more than one copy of PcMT3-like sequences in the P. coarctata genome. Analysis of genomic clone of PcMT3 revealed the presence of two introns. A comparison of the genomic sequence of PcMT3 with closely similar type 3 MTs from rice and mangrove species revealed conservation in the number and position of introns. Transcript profiling for PcMT3 in P. coarctata leaves in the presence of Cd, Cu and Zn showed an increase in transcript accumulation.

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Abbreviations

cys:

cystein

MTs:

metallothioneins

TAIL-PCR:

thermal asymmetric interlaced PCR

DEPC:

diethylpyrocarbonate

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank DBT for providing funds and Dr. Suja George for her extensive help in the preparation of manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Plant Molecular Biology Laboratory, M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, Taramani, Chennai, 600113, India

    B. Usha, N. S. Keeran, M. Harikrishnan, K. Kavitha & A. Parida

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  1. B. Usha
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  2. N. S. Keeran
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  3. M. Harikrishnan
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  4. K. Kavitha
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  5. A. Parida
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Correspondence to A. Parida.

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Usha, B., Keeran, N.S., Harikrishnan, M. et al. Characterization of a type 3 metallothionein isolated from Porteresia coarctata . Biol Plant 55, 119–124 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10535-011-0016-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10535-011-0016-8

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