Quantification of gene expression in Agrostis species subjected to zinc deficiency

Abstract

Keywords: mRNADD, Agrostis, bentgrass, ZIP zinc transporter family,zinc de¯ciencyZinc is an essential micronutrient involved in many cellular mechanismsin biologycal systems and its de¯ciency causes severe reductions in crop yieldand human health.In this study, our goal is to identify and characterize the genes expressedin three Agrostis species; Creeping (Agrostis stolonifera), Colonial (Agrostiscapillaris) and Velvet (Agrostis canina) bentgrass upon exposure to zincde¯ciency using mRNA di®erential display method. Di®erentially expressedfragments were sequenced and analyzed further. Nine di®erentially expressedgenes whose expression levels either increased or decreased in response to zincde¯ciency were identi¯ed. Transcripts identi¯ed have partial similarities tothe previously identi¯ed metal binding proteins. A full sequence of di®eren-tially expressed gene was obtained by using rapid ampli¯cation of cDNA ends(RACE) method. The expression level of this gene was quanti¯ed by Real-Time PCR and a down-regulation was observed under zinc de¯ciency. Theidenti¯ed protein was characterized based on its similarity to the ZIP familytransporters. This is the ¯rst report to identify and characterize homologousof the ZIP family transporters in Agrostis species.iii