Expression pattern and subcellular localization of the ovate protein family in rice

PLoS One. 2015 Mar 11;10(3):e0118966. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0118966. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

The Arabidopsis ovate family proteins (AtOFPs) have been shown to function as transcriptional repressors and regulate multiple aspects of plant growth and development. There are 31 genes that encode the full-length OVATE-domain containing proteins in the rice genome. In this study, the gene structure analysis revealed that OsOFPs are intron poor. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that OVATE proteins from rice, Arabidopsis and tomato can be divided into 4 groups (I-IV). Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis identified OsOFPs with different tissue-specific expression patterns at all stages of development in the rice plant. Interestingly, nearly half of the total number of OsOFP family was more highly expressed during the seed developmental stage. In addition, seed developmental cis-elements were found in the promoter region of the OsOFPs. Subcellular localization analysis revealed that YFP-OsOFP fusion proteins predominantly localized in the nucleus. Our results suggest that OsOFPs may act as regulatory proteins and play pivotal roles in the growth and development of rice.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Evolution, Molecular
  • Gene Expression
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
  • Oryza / genetics
  • Oryza / metabolism*
  • Phylogeny
  • Plant Growth Regulators / physiology
  • Plant Leaves / genetics
  • Plant Leaves / metabolism
  • Plant Proteins / genetics
  • Plant Proteins / metabolism*
  • Protein Transport
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics
  • Repressor Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Plant Growth Regulators
  • Plant Proteins
  • Repressor Proteins

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the National Major Project, Crop Yield Improvement Using Synthetic Transcription Factor (2010ZX08010-002). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.