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ARS Home » Midwest Area » West Lafayette, Indiana » Crop Production and Pest Control Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #104502
Title: A G-PROTEIN BETA-LIKE SUBUNIT FROM SOYBEAN

Author
item Nielsen, Niels
item BEILINSON, VADIM - PURDUE UNIVERSITY, BCHM
item BASSUNER, RONALD - PURDUE UNIVERSITY, BCHM
item REVERDATTO, SERGEI - PURDUE UNIVERSITY, BCHM

Submitted to: Physiologia Plantarum
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/4/2000
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Because soybean is one of the most important agricultural commodities grown by farmers in the United States, it is important that biological systems that regulate the growth and development of the seeds it produces are understood. During the course of experiments designed to identify proteins involved in seed development, a protein with a still unknown function was identified and characterized. The protein consists of 7 repeated structural regions known as WD-40 elements. Such elements characteristically are found in proteins involved in the transmission of biological signals that control the growth and development of both plants and animals. This communication describes the protein and speculates on potential functions. The information is directed toward specialists who are interested in these proteins, and it may be useful in helping establish the function of these proteins.

Technical Abstract: A cDNA clone that encodes a G beta-like protein was isolated from germinating soybeans. The deduced amino acid sequence for this protein is quite similar to other G beta-like proteins isolated from both plants and animals, and contains 7 copies of the WD-40 repeat. RNA blots and message array technology revealed that mRNA for the soybean G beta-like protein is present during both seed development and germination, periods during seed ontogeny when high levels of biosynthetic activity occurs. DNA blot analysis suggested there are only one or two copies of this gene in the soybean genome. Antibodies were raised against recombinant the G beta-like protein expressed in bacteria. They reacted with a 35kDa seed protein that was present in minor amounts in developing seeds. The precise functions of G beta-like proteins are unknown, but they are involved in signal transduction pathways, and in this way participate in seed growth and development.