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Cloning of the Aegiceras corniculatum class I chitinase gene (AcCHI I) and the response of AcCHI I mRNA expression to cadmium stress

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Abstract

Chitinases in terrestrial plants have been reported these are involved in heavy metal tolerance/detoxification. This is the first attempt to reveal chitinase gene (AcCHI I) and its function on metal detoxification in mangroves Aegiceras corniculatum. RT-PCR and RACE techniques were used to clone AcCHI I, while real-time quantitative PCR was employed to assess AcCHI I mRNA expressions in response to Cadmium (Cd). The deduced AcCHI I protein consists of 316 amino acids, including a signal peptide region, a chitin-binding domain (CBD) and a catalytic domain. Protein homology modeling was performed to identify potential features in AcCHI I. The CBD structure of AcCHI I might be critical for metal tolerance/homeostasis of the plant. Clear tissue-specific differences in AcCHI I expression were detected, with higher transcript levels detected in leaves. Results demonstrated that a short duration of Cd exposure (e.g., 3 days) promoted AcCHI I expression in roots. Upregulated expression was also detected in leaves under 10 mg/kg Cd concentration stress. The present study demonstrates that AcCHI I may play an important role in Cd tolerance/homeostasis in the plant. Further studies of the AcCHI I protein, gene overexpression, the promoter and upstream regulation will be necessary for clarifying the functions of AcCHI I.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Key Projects in the National Science & Technology Pillar Program in the Eleventh 5-year Plan Period (No. 2012BAC07B0402), the Projects of Guangzhou Science and Technology (No. 201504010006), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 41430966, 41076070 and 41176101) and the Projects of the Knowledge Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (No. KSCX2-SW-132).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Tropical Oceanography, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510301, China

    Li-Ying Wang, You-Shao Wang, Hao Cheng & Jing-Ping Zhang

  2. Daya Bay Marine Biology Research Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518121, China

    Li-Ying Wang, You-Shao Wang & Hao Cheng

  3. School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800, Miden, Pinang, Malaysia

    Foong Swee Yeok

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  1. Li-Ying Wang
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Correspondence to You-Shao Wang.

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Wang, LY., Wang, YS., Cheng, H. et al. Cloning of the Aegiceras corniculatum class I chitinase gene (AcCHI I) and the response of AcCHI I mRNA expression to cadmium stress. Ecotoxicology 24, 1705–1713 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-015-1502-0

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