Molecular Cloning and Expression Analysis of a FT Homologous Gene from Solanum tuberosum

A homologue of flowering locus T gene, designated StFT, was isolated from Solanum tuberosum by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (accession no. GU223211). The DNA sequence of StFT was 1 626 bp long and contained four exons and three introns. The open reading frame of the gene was 522 bp long and encoded a putative protein of 173 amino acids with a molecular weight of 19.75 kD and a theoretical pI of 7.76. StFT protein had a conserved PBP domain and a higher degree of identity with FT homologous members from other species. Analysis on the mRNA levels of StFT showed that it was highly expressed in leaves, apical buds, flowers, and swelling stolons. Further analysis indicated that its expression was regulated by CONSTANS gene in StCOL-antisense transgenic potato plants.