Cloning and constructing seed-specific over-expression vector carrying Cystatin 2 gene related to resistance to weevil in maize plants

Abstract

Cystatin is the protein inhibitor of cysteine proteinase activity in the intestine of insects. It play role as asubstrate into the active center of cysteine proteinase, that prevents the other substrate proteins go into andinsects undigested protein. Therefore, cystatin correlation to anti-insects including maize weevil. In thisresearch, Zmcys2 cDNA has been cloned and sequenced nucleotides, and Zmcys2 cDNA isolated from localmaize variety Son La. cDNA Zmcys2 has the size of 405 nucleotides, encoding 134 amino acids. Seed-specificover-expression vector carrying Zmcys2 gene have been developed by Gateway technique and transformed into A. tumefaciens. Vector pPhaso_Zmcys2 successfully introduced into tobacco plants via A. tumefaciens. This isthe basis of the transformants pPhaso_Zmcys2 structure into maize plants aims at improving the resistance tomaize weevil.