In a search of the sugarcane expressed sequence tag (SUCEST) database we located three full-length cDNAs (SCCCLR1022D05.g, SCCCRZ1001D02.g and SCBFLR1026E02.g) encoding the 14-3-3 proteins from sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum). The encoded proteins were identified based on the clustering of the expressed sequence tags and were shown to encode proteins similar to 14-3-3 proteins of other monocotyledonous plants. Cluster SCCCLR1022D05.g was 99% similar to the maize 14-3-3-like protein (gi|1345587) while cluster SCCCRZ1001D02.g shared 96% and SCBFLR1026E02.g 94% similarity with the 14-3-3 protein of rice (gi|7435022). Although 14-3-3 proteins have been reported to be specific to particular species, tissue or organ from which they were isolated, all three sugarcane clusters were found to be expressed in several tissues.
