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ARS Home » Northeast Area » University Park, Pennsylvania » Pasture Systems & Watershed Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #59481
Title: A NOVEL PENNISETUM CILIARE CDNA ENCODING FOUR TANDEM ANKYRIN REPEATS

Author
item Gustine, David
item HULCE, DAVID - LOCK HAVEN UNIVERSITY
item Moyer, Barton

Submitted to: Plant Physiology Plant Gene Register Electronic Submission
Publication Type: Research Notes
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/25/1995
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Proteins called ankyrins are widely distributed among animals, including humans. Other proteins also contain repeated groups of amino acids that are in the ankyrins. They serve as helping hands and aid in bringing other proteins together in a way that directs and guides the proper development of babies into adults. They are found in yeast, insects, and animals. Ankyrin-like repeats were recently reported for the first time in proteins of the plant Arabidopsis. We now have found a plant gene (a gene determines the kind of protein) from another plant, Pennisetum ciliare (buffelgrass, a drought tolerant pasture grass), that is related to ankyrins. We have also shown the buffelgrass gene to be closely related to genes from rice. Thus, we conclude that the genes for ankyrin-like proteins are widely distributed in the plant kingdom, just as they are in the animal kingdom.

Technical Abstract: Proteins called ankyrins are widely distributed among vertebrates, including humans. Other proteins also contain the repeated groups of 33 amino acids that are in the ankyrins. They serve as adapters and help bind other proteins together in a way that facilitates and directs development of organisms. They are found in yeast, insects, and animals. Ankyrin-like erepeats were recently reported for the first time in the plant Arabidopsis We now have found a cDNA sequence from another plant, Pennisetum ciliare (buffelgrass, a drought tolerant pasture grass), that encodes four tandem ankyrin repeat elements. We have also shown the buffelgrass cDNA to be closely related to cDNAs from rice. Thus, we conclude that the genes encoding proteins containing ankyrin repeats are widely distributed in the plant kingdom, just as they are in vertebrates and invertebrates.