Molecular characterization of inositol pentakisphosphate 2-kinase (GmlPk1) from soybean and its expression pattern in the developing seeds

Abstract

The principal storage compound of seeds, phytic acid,
poses several problems for agriculture due to its
antinutritional effects making the development of low
phytate crops a prime priority in research. Soybean, with
its high nutritive value, wide acceptability and varied usage,
but possessing high levels of phytate can be a major target
of low phytate research. To this effect, Inositol
pentakisphosphate 2-kinase (IPK1) can prove to be critical
player given its key role in catalyzing the terminal step of
phytate biosynthesis. In this paper, we report the expression
profile of GmIPK1 across different tissues and seed
development stages, cloning of 1371 bp nucleotide
sequence representing the full length cDNA of GmIPK1
and in silico analysis for characterization. Amino acid
sequence of GmIPK1 showed much similarity with that of
Phaseolus vulgaris and Cicer arietinum. It also showed the
presence of the characteristic Ins_P5_2-kinase domain
required for catalytic activity. Thus this study provides an
initial idea on the molecular characterization of GmIPK1
enzyme for its further in detailed study and subsequent
utilization in generating low phyate soybean with enhanced
mineral bioavailability.