Isolation of gene encoding LTP (lipid transfer proteins) from Vietnamese mungbean

Abstract

LTP (Lipid transfer proteins) protein is associated with tolerance to drought in plant. LTP have the ability to transfer phospholipids between membrane vesicles. LTP is implicated in cuticle biosynthesis and thought to play a role in the protection of plant. LTP are 9.12 kDa cysteine-rich cationic peptides and contain 8 cysteine residues formed 4 disulfide bridges [2, 3, 5]. LTP have been isolated from Arabidopsis thaniana L. [1], Zea mays L. [8], Triticum L. [7], Vigna radiata L. [6] and Oryza sativa L. [9].

Based on the sequence of LTP gene of a mungbean cultivar in NCBI sequence database with the accession number AY300807, specific primer pair was designed to amplify the gene in a Vietnamese mungbean cultivar using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The PCR product containing the LTP fragment was cloned in pBT vector and the sequencing of the fragment was carried out using ABI PRISM@ 3100 Advant Genetic Analyzer (Ampplied Biosystem). 351 nucleotides in length of LTP gene fragment was successfully amplified from Vietnamese mungbean cultivar. The correspond a polypeptide sequence of obtained LTP gene was 116 amino acids residues.