Cloning and Phylogenetic Analysis of Actin Genes from Mangrove Family Rhizophoraceae

Abstract

Plant actin is one of the most conserved eukaryotic proteins to maintain the basic cellular process. Homology based PCRs method with degenerate primers designed from the conserved amino acid sequences of diverse actin genes have resulted in cloning of three actin genes. Three partial actin genes were cloned from mangrove family Rhizophoraceae, namely leaves of Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, roots of Kandelia candel and leaves of Rhizophora stylosa. The clones termed BgAct 1 (944 bp, coding for 273 amino acids), KcAct1 (1083 bp, coding for 273 amino acids), and RsAct1 (894 bp, coding for 273 amino acids), respectively. The deduced amino acid sequences of BgAct, KcAct1 and RsAct1 showed significant similarity (93-96%) to known plant actin genes. These results showed that three fragment genes of BgAct, KcAct1 and RsAct1 encoded actin gene. To observe the relationship of BgAct, KcAct1 and RsAct1 to other plant actin genes, the rooted phylogenetic analysis was constructed. Phylogenetic tree shows that BgAct, KcAct1 and RsAct1 join with Eucommia Act and Pyrus Act cluster, suggesting that our three-actin genes are new members of plant actin genes.