Bioinformatics analysis of the Panax ginseng cyclophilin gene and its anti-Phytophthora cactorum activity

Abstract

In this paper, Panax ginseng cyclophilin (PgCyP) was successfully obtained through a genetic engineering technique. A bioinformatics method was used to analyze the physicochemical properties and structure of PgCyP. The results showed that PgCyP belongs to the cyclophilin gene family. The protein encoded by the PgCyP gene contains the active site of PPIase (R62, F67, H133) and a binding site for cyclosporine A (W128). The relative molecular weight of PgCyP is 187.11 kDa, the theoretical isoelectric point is 7.67, and it encodes 174 amino acids. The promoter region of PgCyP mainly contains the low-temperature environmental stress response element (LTR), abscisic acid-responsive cis-acting element (ABRE), and light-responsive cis-acting element (G-Box). PgCyP includes a total of nine phosphorylation sites, comprising 4 serine phosphorylation sites, 3 threonine phosphorylation sites, and 2 tyrosine phosphorylation sites. PgCyP was recombined and expressed in vitro, and its recombinant expression was investigated. Furthermore, it was found that the recombinant PgCyP protein could effectively inhibit the germination of spores and the normal growth of mycelium in vitro. Further experiments on the roots of susceptible Arabidopsis thaliana showed that the PgCyP protein could improve the resistance of Arabidopsis to Phytophthora cactorum. The findings of this study provide a basis for the use of the PgCyP protein as a new type of green biopesticide.