Identification of Triticum aestivum GTP-Binding Protein 1/Elongation Factor 1 Alpha (GBP1/EF1 alpha) that interacts to the Phosphoinositide-Specific Phospholipase C1 (PI-PLC1)

The putative Triticum aestivum GTP-binding protein 1 type elongation factor 1 alpha, GBP1/EF1 alpha, is a cold-induced gene that was found to be differentially expressed in comparisons between cold-tolerant winter wheat and cold-sensitive spring wheat. GBP1/EF1 alpha was mapped on chromosome 2 from the A subgenome of the allohexaploid Triticum aestivum. Wheat GBP1/EF1 alpha encodes a 533 aa protein with a molecular weight of 58.9 kDa. The phylogenetic analysis shows a close relationship between GBP1/EF1 alpha and EF1 homologs in other plant species. The transit expression of wheat GBP1/EF1 alpha in Nicotiana benthamiana leaf epidermal cells showed intercellular localization to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Using a bimolecular fluorescent complementation assay (BiFC), GBP1/EF1 alpha was found to interact with the phosphoinositide-phospholipase C-1 (PI-PLC1) on the ER and plasma membrane. This investigation sheds light on the role of GBP1/EF1 alpha (GTP-binding protein 1 type elongation factor 1 alpha) in the signal transduction pathway.