Identification of the Likely Orthologues of RCD1 within the Plant Family Brassicaceae

Abstract

ABSTRACTRCD1 is a signal transduction factor binding protein that gateways a myriad of developmental and stress-related pathways. It was first reported in the wild plantA. thaliana. Brassica napusis a cultivated member of the family Brassicaceae, in which the presence of this gene was reported. Using the homology data of these two family-related species, gene for this protein was mined within the genomes ofBrassica carinata, Brassica junceaandBrassica oleracea, using sets of degenerate primers designed on homologous portions of theA. thalianaandB. napusorthologues. The newly identified sequences were then compared and studied usingin-silicomeans and their 3D structures were modelled for having an estimate on their functions. Results demonstrate intergeneric conservation of this protein’s domains on structural and functional levels. The newly found orthologues show potential to be regulated under salinity and oxidative stresses apart from being involved in several developmental stages. These homologues are in-stablein-vivoand bear motifs for binding a wide-variety of transcription factors. The structure superimposition studies suggest that these Brassica orthologues bear the WWE domains having transferase activity, the fact that can dramatically increase the survival of these agriculturally important crop plants amid the adverse environmental conditions.