Cloning and sequence analysis of a cDNA encoding rice glutaredoxin

A full-length cDNA clone (RASC8) encoding glutaredoxin (thioltransferase) was isolated from a cDNA library of an aleurone layer prepared from a developing seed of rice ( Oryza sativa L.). RASC8, 568bp in length, contained an ATG codon and two possible polyadenylation signals, and encoded 112 amino acid residues. Cys-Pro-Phe-Cys, which is the active site and a highly conserved sequence among thioltransferases, was found in the deduced amino acid sequence. RASC8 was introduced into an expression vector pMALc2 and the translated product possessed thioltransferase activity.