Cloning and Expression Analysis of Sucrose Non-fermenting-1 Related Protein Kinase (SnRK) in Cucumis sativus L. Under Low Nitrogen Conditions

The sucrose non-fermenting-1 related protein kinase (SnRK), whose expression is induced by kinds of hyperosmotic stresses, plays a key role in improving stress resistance of plants. In order to investigate the molecular mechanism of low nitrogen resistance in cucumber, the full-length cDNA of SnRK gene was cloned in this study. The result showed that SnRK gene was 1 548 bp in length, encoded 515 amino acids, and had more than 80% homology with other crops. The protein encoded by this gene was an unstable and hydrophilic protein with no transmembrane structure and no signal peptide. Under nitrogen-free conditions and low nitrogen conditions, the expression pattern analysis of SnRK gene showed that this gene was up-regulated and its expression increased and was significantly higher than the normal level as the nitrogen concentration decreased. In addition, the expression of SnRK gene was also inhibited in the high nitrogen level and was significantly lower than the normal level. The result of this study would help us understand the molecular mechanism of low nitrogen resistance in cucumber.