Molecular characterization, expression and function analysis of eukaryotic translation initiation factor (eIF1A) in Mangifera indica

Abstract

Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 1A (eIF1A) functions as an important regulatory factor of protein synthesis and plays a crucial role in responses to abiotic stresses in plants. However, little is known about the eIF1A gene involved in fruit development and stress response of mango. In this study, the MieIF1A-b gene was isolated from Mangifera indica, and contains a 435-bp open reading frame, which encodes a putative protein of 144 amino acids (GenBank accession number: KP676599). The predicted MieIF1A-b protein had a molecular weight of 16.39 kDa with a pI of 4.6. Sequence homology analysis showed that MieIF1A-b shared high homology with Elaeis guineensis, Manihot esculenta, and Populus trichocarpa, with 96 and 95% identity, respectively. Quantitative reverse transcriptative PCR (qRT-PCR) analyses indicated that MieIF1A-b was expressed in all tested tissues, and had the highest expression level in fruit 80 d after flowering. The expression of MieIF1A-b was obviously regulated by NaCl and H2O2 treatments in leaves. Functional analysis indicated that the overexpression of MieIF1A-b in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana enhanced the growth, phenotype and salinity tolerance compared with wild-type (WT) plants. The results indicated that MieIF1A-b may be correlated with the control of fruit development and salt adaptation, and it was a candidate gene for abiotic stress in mango.

Keywords

• Mangifera indica
• MieIF1A-b gene
• gene clone
• expression
• functional analysis