| Abstract Detail
Seed Biology Xie, Zhongyu [1], Neigel, Joe [2], Chlan, Caryl [2]. Evolution and Function of Vicilin Genes from Wild Louisiana Legumes. Vicilins are an abundant group of seed storage proteins found in legume seeds. As seed storage proteins, their major function is to provide nitrogen and amino acids for the germinating seed and developing seedling. Additional functions of seed storage proteins and their proteolytic cleavage products have recently been identified. Some of these additional roles include protection from osmotic shock and protection from pathogen infection. Preliminary evidence from our lab indicates that a novel source of selection may be acting on these proteins. To test this hypothesis, we have been studying the patterns of variation of vicilin orthologs and paralogs within and between species of wild populations of legumes in Louisiana. Because many of vicilin sequences characterized were obtained from several inbred crops with vague breeding histories these sequences are not appropriate to study natural variation and selection within the seed storage proteins. We have collected leaf tissue samples and seeds from over 60 wild legume species from various areas in Louisiana. We have obtained vicilin gene sequences from 11 wild legume species. Statistical analysis using HKA test have supported our initial hypothesis concerning unusual mechanisms of selection on these genes. We are also characterizing the function of a class of cysteine-rich vicilin peptides from several vicilin species.
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1 - University of Lousiana at Lafayette, Biology, PO Box 42451, Lafayette, Louisiana, 70504, USA
2 - University of Lousiana at Lafayette, Biology
Keywords:
vicilin
evolution.
Presentation Type: Plant Biology Abstract
Session: P
Location: Exhibit Hall (Northeast, Southwest & Southeast)/Hilton
Date: Sunday, July 8th, 2007
Time: 8:00 AM
Number: P29027
Abstract ID:2293 |
