Journal of Shanghai University(Natural Science Edition) ›› 2013, Vol. 19 ›› Issue (6): 623-630.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1007-2861.2013.06.014

• Life Science • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Isolation, Sequence Analysis and Prokaryotic Expression of a Putative Transcriptional Factor ZmbHLH5 from Maize (Zea mays)

WANG Fang, ZHONG Ming-yu, SONG Ren-tao, XU Zheng-kai, WANG Gui-feng   

  1. Shanghai Key Laboratory of Bio-energy Crops, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
  • Online:2013-12-30 Published:2013-12-30

Abstract: Based on expressed sequence tags (ESTs) isolated from the cDNA library of maize developing kernels, a full-length putative basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor, named ZmbHLH5 was cloned successfully. Sequence analysis showed that ZmbHLH5 cDNA was 1 389 bp in length with an open reading frame (ORF) encoding 211 amino acids and untranslated regions (UTR) of 329 and 433 bp at the 3′and 50-ends, respectively. The protein encoded by ZmbHLH5 had high homology with bHLH transcription factors of other plants, ranging from 68% to 87%, with a conserved 60 amino acids bHLH domain. Expression pattern demonstrated that ZmbHLH5 was expressed at high level in ear and early developing kernels, and at least three ZmbHLH5 isoforms were produced by alternative splicing during kernel development. The fused protein GST-ZmbHLH5 was successfully expressed in prokaryotic expression system with an expected molecular weight of 58 kD.

Key words: alternative splicing, kernel, maize, protein expression, transcription factor ZmbHLH5

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