Cloning and characterization of SLTI98 encoding ribosomal protein s6 in soybean

Abstract

We isolated and characterized a stress-inducible gene designated as SLTI98 encoding ribosomal protein S6 in soybean. The derived amino acid sequence of SLTI98 showed the highest identity of 93% with ribosomal protein S6 from Medicago truncatula (ABD32373). The size of the full-length genomic clone of SLTI98 is 2701 bp containing 6 exons and 5 introns, of which structure is similar to that of Arabidopsis ribosomal protein S6. Genomic southern-blot analysis confirmed that soybean genome has multiple copies of the SLTI98 gene. SLTI98 RNA expression was slightly induced by salt, ABA, or wounding stress, but not by dehydration stress. The present study implies that the nuclear SLTI98 plays an important role in translational control during abiotic stresses.