The possible role of Phosphoenolpyrovate Carboxykinase (PEPCKin protein content of chickpea seeds (Cicer arietinum L

Abstract

Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (PEPCK) has been shown to be present in plants andanimals, playing different metabolic roles in different tissues. The basic role of this enzyme is itscontribution in the gluconeogenesis pathway. Evidences have shown that PEPCK may play a role inmetabolism of nitrogenous compounds in developing seeds of legumes. In this research, pepck geneexpression and the occurrence of PEPCK protein and its activity in different genotypes of chickpea(Cicer arietinume L.) were determined. Two low protein genotypes (MCC291 & MCC373) and twohigh protein genotypes (MCC458 & MCC053) out of 20 chickpea genotypes were selected, fromwhich the total RNA was extracted through different stages of seed development. The expression ofchickpea pepck gene was estimated by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The results of RT-PCR showed thattwo isoforms of this gene were expressed in high protein genotypes, whereas in the low proteingenotypes were not expressed. The differential expression of pepck gene is perhaps related to thepossible role of Phosphoenolpyrovate Carboxykinase in protein content of chickpea seeds.Key words: Chickpea, Nitrogen metabolism, Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase, Seed development