Abstract

Info

Title:: Cloning of the Soybean Chalcone Reductase Gene GmCHR and Construction of Its Plant Expression Vector

Author(s):: LIU Jiang; CHEN Pei; XING Guang-nan; ZHAO Tuan-jie; LI Yan; GAI Jun-yi

Abstract:: Flavonoids are involved in UV filtration, symbiotic nitrogen fixation and floral pigmentation in plants. Isoflavones have potential effects on human health, such as antioxidant activity, preventing breast cancer and other cancers. Chalcone reductase (CHR) is an important enzyme involved in flavonoid biosynthesis. Cloning of soybean chalcone reductase and construction of its plant expression vector would help study its function and the phenylpropanoid pathway. A gene encoding CHR on chromosome 14 was cloned from the cultivated soybean （Glycine max (L.) Merr.）cultivar Nannong 1138-2 using RT-PCR, and was designated as GmCHR. This gene contains a coding DNA sequence (CDS) of 948 bp, and the corresponding protein consists of 315 amino acids. The protein is estimated to have a molecular weight of 35.5 kDa and isoelectric point of 6.32. Comparing with the amino acid sequence of CHR from other legume species, GmCHR has a highest similarity of 94% with the CHR from Puerariae Montana. The mRNA abundance of GmCHR was highest in leaves, followed by seeds, flowers, stems and roots under normal growth conditions. A plant over-expression vector of pMDC83-GmCHR was constructed by Gateway technology, and was transferred into Agrobacterium EHA105, which would provide the opportunity to study the function of GmCHR in soybean flavonoid biosynthesis.