Cloning and expression analysis of the Cullin gene in Citrus reticulata

In this study, the length cDNA and DNA of Cullin gene were cloned from Wuzishatangju (Self-incompatibilty, SI) and Shatangju (Self-compatibilty, SC). The results revealed that Cullin genes from Wuzishatangju and Shatangju were 1989 bp in ORF sequence and encoded 662 amino acid while between Wuzishatangju and Shatangju, three bases and two three amino acids were different. The expression of the Cullin gene in anthers of Wuzishatangju was 7.4-fold higher than that in anthers of Shatangju. The expression rised gradually after self-pollination. While it was first increasing, then it was decreasing after cross-pollination. The result from subcellular localization showed that the Cullin gene was localization in cell nucleus. Thus Cullin gene may participate in SI reaction in Wuzishatangju which provided a candidate gene potentially useful for self-incompatibility although its function still needs further confirmation.