A family of silicon transporter structural genes in a pennate diatom Synedra ulna subsp. danica (Kütz.) Skabitsch

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0203161
• Publication Date: 2018-08-29T19:24:12Z
• Authors: Artyom M. Marchenkov; Darya P. Petrova; Alexey A. Morozov; Yulia R. Zakharova; Michael A. Grachev; Alexander A. Bondar
• Keywords: Silicic acid

Silicon transporters (SIT) are the proteins, which capture silicic acid in aquatic environment and direct it across plasmalemma to cytoplasm of diatoms. Diatoms utilize build species-specific ornamented exoskeletons make a significant contribution global silica cycle, estimated at 240 ±40 Tmol year. Recently SaSIT genes freshwater araphid pennate diatom Synedra acus subsp. radians found be present genome as cluster two structural (SaSIT-TD SaSIT-TRI) encoding several concatenated copies SIT protein each. These could potentially transformed into “mature” proteins by means posttranslational proteolytic cleavage. In study, we discovered three similar SuSIT closely related ulna danica. Structural gene SuSIT1 is identical SuSIT2, connected non-coding nucleotide DNA sequence. All putative SITs contain conserved amino motifs, believed important silicon transport. The data obtained suggest that predicted may minimal units necessary for transport S. comparative analysis all available multi-SITs has allowed us detect conservative motifs YQXDXVYL DXDID, located between proteins. Aspartic acid-rich DXDID motif can, our opinion, serve proteolysis site during multi-SIT narrow distribution distances CMLD can additional evidence conservation their function.