Differential analysis of glycinin and β-conglycinin gene expression in seeds of cultivated soybean varieties at different periods of their maturation

Background. Soybeans are an economically important crop used in various industries, from human nutrition to animal feeding. The creation of new varieties with a high protein content or with a certain subunit composition more suitable for food and feed purposes is an urgent area for research. In this study, the differential expression of glycinin and β-conglycinin genes in seeds of various soybean varieties (Glycine max [L.] Merr) at different stages of maturation (R5-R8) was analyzed. Glycinin’s and β-conglycinins make up a significant part of the protein contained in soybeans, play an important role in seed germination and provide biotic protection. High-protein (Bride and Stately) and low-protein (Harmony and Dauria) varieties were analyzed in the study. Purpose. To carry out a differential analysis of the expression of glycinin and β-conglycin genes in various phases of filling and maturation of seeds (R5-R8) of soybean varieties selected by the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Research Center of the Russian Research Institute of Soybeans with increased and decreased protein content. Materials and methods. The selection of primers for the analysis of glycine genes (Gy1-5 and Gy7) and β-conglycinins (Cg1 and Cg3-4) was carried out using software that allows to achieve high specificity and the absence of secondary structures (dimers, hairpins), from RNA extracted from seeds, was cDNA was obtained using the necessary reagent kits, amplification of fragments and their detection were carried out on a CFX-96 thermo-cycler in real time. Results. Primers have been developed suitable for analyzing the expression level of genes encoding different subunits of glycinins and β-conglycinins. Transcriptomic profiles of the studied subunits were obtained. Conclusion. The results showed that high-protein varieties demonstrate increased expression of glycinin genes in the early stages of development, whereas low-protein varieties are characterized by increased expression of β-conglycinin genes. This opens up prospects for using data on gene expression in the selection of new soybean varieties, and may also be able to optimize the timing of soybean harvest for food production, depending on a certain subunit composition of proteins.