Cloning and expression analysis of HXK1 gene from Jatropha curcas L

HXK (Hexokinase) gene family and the role of JcHXK1 in Jatropha curcas L. were explored. Totally 4 HXK genes JcHXK1, JcHXK2, JcHXK3 and JcHKL1 were identified and complete ORF of JcHXK1 was cloned. Functional domain, phylogenetic evolution and low-temperature expression characteristics were analyzed. Results showed that full-length JcHXK1 cDNA was 1497 bp, encoding 498 amino acids with molecular weight of 53.81 ​kDa and pI of 5.03. Further phylogenetic evolutionary analysis demonstrated HXK1 protein was clustered into 6 small branches and 2 large branches. Sequence alignment showed that HXK1 contained several conserved glycine residues and hydrophobic channels. Prokaryotic expression vector of JcHXK1 was constructed and 12% SDS-PAGE detection showed that it was highly expressed in E. coli. These research was expected to lay a foundation for further gene functional verification and cold signal transduction mechanism for HXK1 in Jatropha curcas L.