Cloning and expression analysis of a LFY homologous gene in Chinese jujube (Ziziphus jujube Mill.)

Abstract

LEAFY (LFY) homologous genes are necessary for the transition from vegetative to reproductive development in flowering plants. The full-length cDNA of a LFY homolog was successfully isolated from floral buds of Chinese Jujube (Ziziphus jujube Mill.) by degenerate reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE), and Blastn analysis. The LFY homologous gene was denominated as ZjLFY and deposited at the GenBank under accession JN165097. The full-length cDNA sequence of ZjLFY was 1517 bp in length and contained a completed open reading frame (ORF) of 1209 bp encoding 576 amino acids. Amino acid sequence comparison revealed that the ZjLFY had two variable regions and two conserved regions. At the amino acid level, the ZjLFY showed high similarity ranging from 57.5 to 82.9% with other LFY homologous members. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR and quantitative real-time PCR analysis revealed strong expression of ZjLFY in floral buds, but weak expression in fruit-bearing shoots, vegetative shoots, stems, mature leaves and axillary buds,suggesting that the ZjLFY played a role in both vegetative and reproductive development in Chinese jujube.

Key words: Chinese jujube, LFY, organ expression, semi-quantitative RT-PCR, quantitative real-time PCR.