In silico expression analysis of germin-like protein genes from rice cultivar Nipponbare

Plants contain a ubiquitous group of proteins called germin-like proteins that belong to the cupin superfamily. These proteins are known to be expressed in response to biotic and abiotic stress.

This study analyzed the expression behavior of rice germin-like protein genes, OsGLP12-3, OsGLP8-12, and OsGLP9-3, in response to abscisic acid and drought stresses using in vitro and silico tools, highlighting their mechanisms in plant defense.

In vitro experiments involved the surface sterilization of seeds from the rice cultivar Nipponbare, which were then grown hydroponically on sterile MS media under light conditions. Total RNA was extracted from leaves subjected to drought and abscisic acid stress at intervals of 1, 2, 3, 5, and 10 h, followed by reverse transcription to synthesize cDNA. Expression analysis of the genes OsGLP8-12, OsGLP9-3, and OsGLP12-3 revealed varying levels of induction. In silico investigations identified three unique clusters of OsGLP genes, highlighting differences in mRNA homology. The proteins are predicted to localize extracellularly, with molecular weights ranging from 22,456.06 Da to 24,677.16 Da. The isoelectric points for OsGLP-9-3 and OsGLP-12-3 were found to be 5.45 and 5.76, respectively, indicating a basic nature. The aliphatic index varied between 24.58 and 40. Validation of the 3D structures confirmed their good model quality, and the MEME software identified various conserved motifs within the cupin domain. Notably, OsGLP-9-3 contained two transmembrane helices, suggesting that it is associated with membranes, while OsGLP-8-12 and OsGLP-12-3 did not possess these features.

The current data can be utilized to develop economically and ergonomically robust rice cultivars that can withstand various environmental stresses.