Research Article

In silico characterization of 1,2-diacylglycerol cholinephosphotransferase and lysophospha­tidylcholine acyltransferase genes in Glycine max L. Merrill

Published: August 26, 2016
Genet. Mol. Res. 15(3): gmr8974 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4238/gmr.15038974
Cite this Article:
C.S. Sousa, B.A. Barros, D. Barh, P. Ghosh, V. Azevedo, E.G. Barros, M.A. Moreira, C.S. Sousa, B.A. Barros, D. Barh, P. Ghosh, V. Azevedo, E.G. Barros, M.A. Moreira (2016). In silico characterization of 1,2-diacylglycerol cholinephosphotransferase and lysophospha­tidylcholine acyltransferase genes in Glycine max L. Merrill. Genet. Mol. Res. 15(3): gmr8974. https://doi.org/10.4238/gmr.15038974
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Abstract

The enzymes 1,2-diacylglycerol cholinephosphotrans­ferase (CPT) and lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase (LPCAT) are important in lipid metabolism in soybean seeds. Thus, understand­ing the genes that encode these enzymes may enable their modification and aid the improvement of soybean oil quality. In soybean, the genes encoding these enzymes have not been completely described; there­fore, this study aimed to identify, characterize, and analyze the in silico expression of these genes in soybean. We identified two gene models encoding CPT and two gene models encoding LPCAT, one of which presented an alternative transcript. The sequences were positioned on the physical map of soybean and the promoter regions were analyzed. Cis-elements responsible for seed-specific expression and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses were identified. Virtual expression analysis of the gene models for CPT and LPCAT indicated that these genes are expressed under different stress conditions, in somatic embryos during differentiation, in immature seeds, root tissues, and calli. Putative ami­no acid sequences revealed the presence of transmembrane domains, and analysis of the cellular localization of these enzymes revealed they are located in the endoplasmic reticulum.

The enzymes 1,2-diacylglycerol cholinephosphotrans­ferase (CPT) and lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase (LPCAT) are important in lipid metabolism in soybean seeds. Thus, understand­ing the genes that encode these enzymes may enable their modification and aid the improvement of soybean oil quality. In soybean, the genes encoding these enzymes have not been completely described; there­fore, this study aimed to identify, characterize, and analyze the in silico expression of these genes in soybean. We identified two gene models encoding CPT and two gene models encoding LPCAT, one of which presented an alternative transcript. The sequences were positioned on the physical map of soybean and the promoter regions were analyzed. Cis-elements responsible for seed-specific expression and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses were identified. Virtual expression analysis of the gene models for CPT and LPCAT indicated that these genes are expressed under different stress conditions, in somatic embryos during differentiation, in immature seeds, root tissues, and calli. Putative ami­no acid sequences revealed the presence of transmembrane domains, and analysis of the cellular localization of these enzymes revealed they are located in the endoplasmic reticulum.