Bioinformatics analysis of the neoxanthin synthase gene in cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata)

Neoxanthin synthase (NXS) is an important enzyme in carotenoid biosynthesis. Here, the Brassica oleracea var. capitata NXS gene (BocNXS) sequence was downloaded from Brassica database, and preformed for bioinformatics analysis. The BocNXS gene contains an open reading frame of 699 bp that encodes a 232-amino acid protein with a calculated molecular mass of 25.53 kD and an isoelectric point (pI) of 9.60. Subcellular localization predicted the BocNXS gene was in the chloroplast. Protein secondary structure analysis results show that NXS contains 4 alpha helices, 10 beta sheets, 16 beta-turns, and most amino acids are hydrophobic amino acid. Homology analysis indicates that the NXS protein is apparently conserved during plant evolution and is most closely related to B. napus, and Raphanus sativus. The findings of the present study provide a molecular basis for the elucidation of NXS gene function in Cabbage.