Published Paper Details:

Abstract: Glyoxalase pathway is normally induced and up regulated in response to salinity, drought and cold stresses in many plants. The mangroves are relatively saline resistant plant and it would be very interesting to know the saline tolerance mechanism of mangroves. In the current study we report, the isolation of partial glyoxalase I gene from Rizophora mucuronata (Mangrove) and its role in saline tolerance mechanism in mangroves. The various responses of the plant towards salinity have been utilized in genetic engineering to generate transgenic stress resistant crop plants either by transferring stress responsive genes or altering the expression of existing genes. Mangroves and associated plants are among the most salt tolerant plants and are ideal models for studying the salt tolerant mechanisms because of their ability to tolerate extremely high salinity. A partial genomic sequence coding for Glyoxalase I was PCR amplified using primers designed based on previously reported sequences on other species. Two specific primers were used. The 400 bp fragment was amplified from genomic DNA. The 400 bp genomic DNA fragment amplified was sequenced. After sequencing a 370 bp was obtained excluding the primer regions. Glyoxalase I gene from the present sequence shows significant similarity with several glyoxalase I genes isolated from different plant species. Maximum similarity for the sequenced portion of the gene was obtained with glyoxalase I from Hevea brasiliensis glyoxalase (100%), followed by Manihot esculenta glyoxalase (94.74%) and Jatropha curcas (93.61%). Distance tree also reveals relationship other glyoxalases from other species. The short protein sequence was also deduced from nucleotide sequences and it shows maximum similarity with Hevea brasiliensis.