Characterization of a novel type of HMW subunit of glutenin from Australopyrum retrofractum

The Triticeae species Australopyrum retrofractum (genome WW) produces a single high molecular weight glutenin subunit (HMW-GS) in its endosperm. However, degenerate PCR amplification of its genome DNA revealed the presence of two related HMW-GS sequences, each consisting of an open reading frame. One of these (Glu-W1-2) has not previously been reported. Here, we sequenced Glu-W1-2 and showed that it encodes the same type of HMW-GS as Glu-W1-1, although its overall product length was much shorter, because the number of certain repetitive motifs was lower in its central region. Both A. retrofractum HMW-GSs have a unique repetitive motif, which differentiates them from other known x- and y-type subunits present in Triticeae species. We suggest that A. retrofractum must have diverged from the main Triticeae lineage prior to the Glu-1 duplication event which led to the evolution of the x- and y-type genes.

► The cloning of a novel type of HMW-GS gene from Australopyrum retrofractum.
► This subunit has a novel type of repeat motif different from all known HMW-GS.
► A. retrofractum possess two HMW-GS genes with the same type.
► The Glu-W1 locus undergone a special evolutionary process.