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Published on: June 30, 2023
Characterization of profilin polymorphism in pollen with a focus on multifunctionality
Jose C Jimenez-Lopez1, Sonia Morales, Antonio J Castro
1Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology of Plants, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, High Council for Scientific Research, Granada, Spain.
Plos One
|February 21, 2012
Summary
Pollen profilin sequences show high variability, impacting protein function and enabling taxonomic separation between species. This genetic diversity influences plant adaptation and signaling pathways.
Area of Science:
- Plant molecular biology
- Allergen research
- Protein polymorphism
Background:
- Profilins are key proteins regulating actin dynamics with multiple binding partners.
- Pollen profilins are significant allergens across various plant species, including olive, birch, and timothy grass.
- Limited understanding of sequence variability in pollen profilins hinders comprehension of their functional and clinical roles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To extensively characterize sequence polymorphism in pollen profilins.
- To investigate the impact of this variability on protein properties and interactions.
- To explore the potential of profilin polymorphism for taxonomic differentiation.
Main Methods:
- Cloning of pollen profilin sequences from 24 olive cultivars and four other plant species.
- Bioinformatic analysis of sequence variability and its effects on functional residues.
- Comparative analysis of intra-specific/varietal versus inter-specific/cultivar polymorphism.
Main Results:
- Identified a high level of sequence variability within pollen profilins.
- Found higher quantitative polymorphism within species/varieties than between species/cultivars.
- Demonstrated that profilin polymorphism affects post-translational modifications, physicochemical properties, and partner-interacting residues.
- Observed clear taxonomic separation between the five studied plant species based on profilin sequences.
Conclusions:
- Pollen profilin polymorphism significantly impacts protein function, potentially leading to differential properties and altered interactions.
- Natural variation in profilins generates isovariants, suggesting multifunctionality and adaptation within plant germplasm.
- Understanding profilin variability is crucial for insights into plant signaling, stress responses, and allergenicity.
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