RCD1 homologues and their constituent WWE domain in plants: analysis of conservation through phylogeny methods

RCD1 protein confers multiple stress tolerance to plant, while playing in it developmental roles as well. After an extensive characterization of its gene in A. thaliana, role of its orthologues under varying stresses have also been characterized in rice, wheat and tomato plants. RCD1 of A. thaliana with its rice homologue has been found consensually involved in providing plant tolerance against oxidative and osmotic stresses; however, its stress-tolerance roles under other environmental stresses seem rather contrasting. This is also the case with the expression profile, primary protein structure and binding affinities of these two homologues. Such differences in behaviours of the RCD1 homologues raises need to study their evolutionary status, in an effort to infer relative conservation of their functions. To elucidate this pattern, available RCD1 homologues have been subjected to Maximum Parsimony and Bayesian Inference-based analysis in this research. Conservation status of the SRO1/RCD1 type-specific WWE domain has also been explored using the available sequences in online databases along with the WWE-encoding sequences obtained in sugarcane, wheat and rice using single set of primers designed on conserved flanking regions. Results suggest a high conservation of these homologues within plant families, suggesting family-specific conservation of their functionalities in demonstrating stress responses.