Molecular cloning and bioinformatics analysis of the neoxanthin synthase gene in yellow flower Chinese kale

Neoxanthin synthase (NXS) is an important enzyme in carotenoid biosynthesis. Here, the BoaNXS gene was cloned from yellow flower Chinese kale, and preformed for bioinformatics analysis. The BoaNXS gene contains an open reading frame of 699 bp that encodes a 232 - amino acid protein with a calculated molecular mass of 25.52 kD and an isoelectric point (pI) of 9.6. Subcellular localization predicted that the BoaNXS was in the chloroplast. The functional domain of the BoaNXS protein contains DUF4281 Super family. Homology analysis indicates that the NXS protein is apparently conserved during plant evolution, and BoaNXS is most closely related to Brassica napus, and B. oleracea var. oleracea. The findings of the present study provide a theoretical basis for the elucidation of NXS gene function in Chinese kale.