Isolation and characterization of IDI2, a new Fe-deficiency-induced cDNA from barley roots, which encodes a protein related to the alpha subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 2B (eIF2Balpha)
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Updated: Oct 10, 2026

Metabolic Mapping: Quantitative Enzyme Cytochemistry and Histochemistry to Determine the Activity of Dehydrogenases in Cells and Tissues
Published on: May 26, 2018
H Yamaguchi1, H Nakanishi, N K Nishizawa
1Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, The University of Tokyo, 1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, 113-8657 Tokyo, Japan.
Abstract:
A new Fe-deficiency-inducible cDNA, IDI2, was isolated from Fe-deficient barley roots using the cDNA MACRO Array Technique. Accumulation of IDI2 transcripts in barley roots was strongly correlated with iron nutritional status. IDI2 encoded a protein with a low similarity to the alpha subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 2B (eIF2Balpha). In addition, many hypothetical proteins homologous to IDI2 were also found in a database search. These proteins had limited similarity to eIF2Balpha as well as IDI2. It has been reported that these eIF2Balpha-like proteins (eIF2Balpha-LPs) are a family that is distinct from the eIF2Balpha/beta/delta family and widely distributed in the archaea, bacteria, and eukarya. A phylogenic analysis revealed that IDI2 is the first member of the eIF2Balpha-LP family to be found in higher plants. A possible role of IDI2 protein in regulating protein synthesis in Fe-deficient barley roots is proposed.

