A rhodopsin-like protein in Cyanophora paradoxa: gene sequence and protein immunolocalization

作者：Frassanito Anna Maria; Barsanti Laura; Passarelli Vincenzo; Evangelista Valtere; Gualtieri Paolo^*

来源：Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, 2010, 67(6): 965-971.

DOI：10.1007/s00018-009-0225-x

• Rhodopsin-like protein
• Cyanophora paradoxa
• Muroplast
• Cyanelle
• Antibody labeling

Here, we report the DNA sequence of the rhodopsin gene in the alga Cyanophora paradoxa (Glaucophyta). The primers were designed according to the conserved regions of prokaryotic and eukaryotic rhodopsin-like proteins deposited in the GenBank. The sequence consists of 1,272 bp comprised of 5 introns. The correspondent protein, named Cyanophopsin, showed high identity to rhodopsin-like proteins of Archea, Bacteria, Fungi, and Algae. At the N-terminal, the protein is characterized by a region with no transmembrane alpha-helices (80 aa), followed by a region with 7 alpha-helices (219 aa) and a shorter 35-aa C-terminal region. The DNA sequence of the N-terminal region was expressed in E. coli and the recombinant purified peptide was used as antigen in hens to obtain polyclonal antibodies. Indirect immunofluorescence in C. paradoxa cells showed a marked labeling of the muroplast (aka cyanelle) membrane.

• 出版日期2010-3