Molecular cloning and expression analysis of glutathione reductase gene in Chlamydomonas sp. ICE-L from Antarctica

A cDNA (GenBank ID: GU395492) encoding cytosolic glutathione reductase (named ICE-LGR) in Antarctic microalgae Chlamydomonas sp. ICE-L was successfully cloned by RT-PCR and rapid amplification of cDNA ends technique (RACE). The expression patterns of ICE-LGR under different salinity stresses were determined by real-time PCR. ICE-LGR cDNA has 1913 bp nucleotides with an open reading frame (ORF) of 1458 bp, encoding 485 amino acid residues. The deduced amino acid sequence shows 79% homology with glutathione reductase (GR) of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Activity assessment and mRNA expression analysis results showed that activity and expression level of GR in ICE-L cells were up-regulated under either high or low salinity. Together, our results revealed that ICE-LGR might play an important role in Antarctic ice algae Chlamydomonas sp. ICE-L acclimatizing to polar high salinity environment as well as low salinity. These results provide us valuable information on further investigating the molecular mechanism of ICE-LGR.

► A cDNA of ICE-LGR in Chlamydomonas sp. ICE-L was cloned.
► ICE-LGR cDNA has 1913 bp nucleotides encoding 485 amino acid residues.
► The amino acid sequence shows 79% homology with Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.
► The expression patterns under different salinity stresses were determined.
► ICE-LGR expression level was up-regulated under either high or low salinity.