Molecular cloning and characterization of the plasma membrane aquaporin gene (OvPIP) from Orychophragmus violaceus

Abstract

A plasma membrane aquaporin gene (OvPIP) from Orychophragmus violaceus (O. violaceus) was cloned. The full-length cDNA of O. violaceus gene (OvPIP) was 1314 bp and contained 1188 open reading frame encoding a protein of 395 amino acids. Homology analysis revealed that OvPIP strongly resembled other PIP genes. Southern blot analysis indicated that OvPIP gene was present in O. violaceus genome, and quantitative real-time PCR (QRT-PCR) analysis revealed that OvPIP transcript level was most abundant after 12 h treatment with 200 mM sodium chloride. Our studies suggested that OvPIP is a member of the family of the recently cloned plant plasma membrane aquaporins gene.

Key words: Orychophragmus violaceus, plasma membrane, tonoplast  aquaporins gene, RACE-PCR, quantitative real-time PCR.