Cloning and Sequence Analysis of a WDR Gene from Common Tobacco

MYB-bHLH-WD40 protein complex plays a crucial role in regulating the trichome differentiation in the tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum). By using RT-PCR method, a WDR (NtWDR) gene was isolated from common tobacco Yuyan 85 and the gene accession number is GQ260131. NtWDR cDNA is 1 433 bp in length with a 1 029 bp open reading frame (ORF) as well as a 147 bp 5′-untranslated region (UTR) and a 257 bp 3′-UTR. The encoded NtWDR protein is 342 aa with a calculated molecular weight (Mw) of 38.49 kDa and a isoelectric point (pI) value of 4.81. BLASTs and NCBI conserved domain search indicated that NtWDR was AN11/TTG1-type WD40 proteins. Phylogenetics analysis and structural characterizations identified NtWDR to be orthologs of PhAN11 and Le113964R.