Conformation of 3D Protein Models after Mutations in Genes Associated with Maize Haploid Induction and Embryogenesis

The article presents an analysis of the secondary, tertiary structures and conformation changes in 3D protein models as a result of spontaneous mutations in genes associated with maize (Zea mays L.) gynogenesis and embryogenesis. In particular, it was found that the four-nucleotides insertion into the Zm_Mtl/Nld/Pla1 gene sequence leads to substitution of two α-helices with an unstructured section and a change in the amino acid composition of one of the β-folds in haploid-inducing (Stock 6, ZMS-8, ZMS-P) maize lines. The SNP at 131 position from the Zm_Dmp7/Duf679 gene starting codon change the α-helix position in the haploid-inducing line CAU5 change, unlike the ZMS-8 line, which has a similar SNP and two additional amino acid substitutions. On the other hand, the SNP in the Zm_Bbm1 gene from parthenogenetic line AT-4 and Zm_CenH3 gene of haploid-inducing (ZMS-8, ZMS-P), and control (KM) maize lines do not lead to the amino acid substitutions in the corresponding proteins.