The Subcellular Localization and Functional Analysis of Fibrillarin2, a Nucleolar Protein in Nicotiana benthamiana

Biomed Res Int. 2016:2016:2831287. doi: 10.1155/2016/2831287. Epub 2016 Jan 17.

Abstract

Nucleolar proteins play important roles in plant cytology, growth, and development. Fibrillarin2 is a nucleolar protein of Nicotiana benthamiana (N. benthamiana). Its cDNA was amplified by RT-PCR and inserted into expression vector pEarley101 labeled with yellow fluorescent protein (YFP). The fusion protein was localized in the nucleolus and Cajal body of leaf epidermal cells of N. benthamiana. The N. benthamiana fibrillarin2 (NbFib2) protein has three functional domains (i.e., glycine and arginine rich domain, RNA-binding domain, and α-helical domain) and a nuclear localization signal (NLS) in C-terminal. The protein 3D structure analysis predicted that NbFib2 is an α/β protein. In addition, the virus induced gene silencing (VIGS) approach was used to determine the function of NbFib2. Our results showed that symptoms including growth retardation, organ deformation, chlorosis, and necrosis appeared in NbFib2-silenced N. benthamiana.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
  • Gene Silencing
  • Methyltransferases / genetics*
  • Methyltransferases / metabolism
  • Nicotiana / chemistry
  • Nicotiana / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
  • Plant Proteins / genetics*
  • Plant Proteins / metabolism
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Plant Proteins
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Methyltransferases