Molecular characterization and functional analysis of phytase gene (Tapaphy_a1.2) from Indian Wheat Variety

Phytase plays an important role in hydrolyzing phytate complex and enhances the absorption of micronutrients. It is important to identify and characterize phytase gene in wheat elite varieties. In the current study, phytase gene (TaPAPhy_a1.2) was sequenced from an Indian variety C-306. The whole gene sequence contained 2,147 nucleotides with four exons. It was separated by three introns of size 68, 88 and 105bp and encoding polypeptide of 573 amino acid residues. The predicted molecular weight and isoelectric point were 63.12 kDa and 5.79, respectively. The phylogenetic analysis showed that TaPAPhy_a1.2 gene was clustered on a branch with PAPhy_a1 from T. aestivum DBW17 (JX501672) and T. aestivum cultivar Chinese spring PAPhy a2 gene. Homology study of TaPAPhy_a1.2 demonstrated that protein belongs to phosphatase family with EC 3.1.3.2. TaPaPhy_a1.2 gene sequence of C-306 cultivar could be very useful in identifying gene-based marker for screening of wheat germplasm based on their high phytase level.