Cloning and molecular characterization of a RING zinc-finger gene of Hevea brasiliensis.

Using the information about the sequence from a differentially expressed clone (designated as HbSSH10) encodes a protein specifying a cysteine-rich sequence containing a putative "RING finger" or "C3HC4" consensus motif that was cloned recently by the subtractive hybridization between latex and leaves from rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis). A full-length cDNA encoding C3HC4 type zinc-finger protein was isolated and characterized from rubber tree. Sequence analysis revealed that the ORFs of HbRZF encode 156 amino acid residues with a total predicted molecular mass of 17.2 kD, HbRZF protein having a putative "RING finger" segment (amino acid residues 100-144). The deduced amino acid sequences of HbRZF showed high identities of 48%, 52% and 50% to those of the ring zinc protein from Poncirus trifoliata, Arabidopsis thaliana, Thellungiella halophila. The result of Northern blot analysis indicated that the transcripts of the HbRZF were expressed more in the latex than in the leaves, whereas little expression was detected in roots and flowers. The transcription of HbRZF was induced by jasmonic acid, whereas ethylene had little effect.