Abstract

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS AND IDENTIFICATION OF GENES RELATED TO POTASSIUM TRANSPORTER FAMILIES IN SORGHUM BICOLOR

P.Neeraja*, N CH Madhusudhan, P.B.Kavikishore

Abstract

The molecular basis of K+ channel function is universally conserved. The various functions of plant potassium transporter genes range from mineral nutrition to the regulation of cell growth and development K+ channels allow K+ flux and are essential for the generation of electric current across excitable membranes. K+ channels are also the targets of various intracellular control mechanisms, such that the suboptimal regulation of channel function might be related to pathological conditions. In the present study, an analysis of the genomic sequences related to K+ transporter families in Sorghum bicolor was carried out by searching genome in public databanks. Comparative analysis of sorghum genome against rice as a model plant has identified a total of 60 genes. Phylogenetic analyses of selected potassium transporter families have been analyzed. These analyses show the number of genes, the number and constellation of sub groups, as well as the complexity of each of these gene families in the sorghum genome. Furthermore, results from each of the analyzed gene families are described. In this study, a total of 60 genes are possibly involved with K+ transport in Sorghum bicolour. Among the 60 genes 31 genes related to HAK family, 11 genes to shaker family (1P\6TM), , four sequences to KCO family (2P\4TM ORK Type), eight genes to CNGC, 4 genes to Trk family and two putative K+ /H+ antiporter genes were analyzed. The HAK family forms the tightest and most distinct branch in the phylogenetic tree of sorghum K+ transporters. All putative SbHAK transporters exhibited more than 30% identity with rice OsHAK1.

Keywords: Phylogenetic analyses, K+ channels, Sorghum bicolour, shaker family, Oryza sativa.