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Glutathione reductase a unique enzyme: molecular cloning, expression and biochemical characterization from the stress adapted C4 plant, Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br

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Abstract

The generation of excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) is one of the most common consequences of abiotic stress on plants. Glutathione reductase (GR, E.C. 1.6.4.2) and allied enzymes of the ascorbate–glutathione cycle play a crucial role to maintain the homeostatic redox balance in the cellular environment. GR plays an essential role in upholding the reduced glutathione pool under stress conditions. In the present study, a full-length GR cDNA and corresponding genomic clone was isolated from Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br. The PgGR cDNA, encodes a 497-amino acid peptide with an estimated molecular mass of ~53.5 kDa. The PgGR peptide exhibits 54–89 % sequence homology with GR from other plants and is cytoplasmic in nature. The PgGR enzyme was purified to near homogeneity, the recombinant protein being relatively thermostable and displaying activity in a broad range of temperature, pH and substrate concentrations. The PgGR transcript level was differentially regulated by heat, cold, salinity and methyl viologen-induced oxidative stress. The heterologously expressed PgGR protein in E. coli showed an improved protection against metal- and methyl viologen-induced oxidative stress. Our overall finding underscores the role of PgGR gene that responds to multiple abiotic stresses and provides stress tolerance in the experimental model (E. coli) which can be potentially used for the improvement of crops under abiotic stress conditions.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to the ICGEB, New Delhi for providing support and facilities to carry out the research. The authors thank Prof. B. B. Panda, Department of Botany, Berhampur University, India, who read and helped for improvement of the manuscript. The award of Research Associateship by Department of Biotechnology (DBT) India, to Dr. V. M. M. Achary is acknowledged.

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  1. Plant Molecular Biology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, 110 067, India

    V. Mohan Murali Achary, Chinreddy S. Reddy, Prachi Pandey, Tahmina Islam, Tanushri Kaul & Malireddy K. Reddy

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  1. V. Mohan Murali Achary
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Achary, V.M.M., Reddy, C.S., Pandey, P. et al. Glutathione reductase a unique enzyme: molecular cloning, expression and biochemical characterization from the stress adapted C4 plant, Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br. Mol Biol Rep 42, 947–962 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-014-3832-z

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