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PubMed2004

A transcript finishing initiative for closing gaps in the human transcriptome.

We report the results of a transcript finishing initiative, undertaken for the purpose of identifying and characterizing novel human transcripts, in which RT-PCR was used to bridge gaps between paired EST clusters, mapped against the genomic sequence. Each pair of EST clusters selected for experimental validation was designated a transcript finishing unit (TFU). A total of 489 TFUs were selected for validation, and an overall efficiency of 43.1% was achieved. We generated a total of 59,975 bp of transcribed sequences organized into 432 exons, contributing to the definition of the structure of 211 human transcripts. The structure of several transcripts reported here was confirmed during the course of this project, through the generation of their corresponding full-length cDNA sequences. Nevertheless, for 21% of the validated TFUs, a full-length cDNA sequence is not yet available in public databases, and the structure of 69.2% of these TFUs was not correctly predicted by computer programs. The TF strategy provides a significant contribution to the definition of the complete catalog of human genes and transcripts, because it appears to be particularly useful for identification of low abundance transcripts expressed in a restricted set of tissues as well as for the delineation of gene boundaries and alternatively spliced isoforms.

Alternative Splicing↗
PubMed2006

Transcriptional profiling implicates novel interactions between abiotic stress and hormonal responses in Thellungiella, a close relative of Arabidopsis.

Thellungiella, an Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana)-related halophyte, is an emerging model species for studies designed to elucidate molecular mechanisms of abiotic stress tolerance. Using a cDNA microarray containing 3,628 unique sequences derived from previously described libraries of stress-induced cDNAs of the Yukon ecotype of Thellungiella salsuginea, we obtained transcript profiles of its response to cold, salinity, simulated drought, and rewatering after simulated drought. A total of 154 transcripts were differentially regulated under the conditions studied. Only six of these genes responded to all three stresses of drought, cold, and salinity, indicating a divergence among the end responses triggered by each of these stresses. Unlike in Arabidopsis, there were relatively few transcript changes in response to high salinity in this halophyte. Furthermore, the gene products represented among drought-responsive transcripts in Thellungiella associate a down-regulation of defense-related transcripts with exposure to water deficits. This antagonistic interaction between drought and biotic stress response may demonstrate Thellungiella's ability to respond precisely to environmental stresses, thereby conserving energy and resources and maximizing its survival potential. Intriguingly, changes of transcript abundance in response to cold implicate the involvement of jasmonic acid. While transcripts associated with photosynthetic processes were repressed by cold, physiological responses in plants developed at low temperature suggest a novel mechanism for photosynthetic acclimation. Taken together, our results provide useful starting points for more in-depth analyses of Thellungiella's extreme stress tolerance.

Arabidopsis↗
PubMed2005

Differential targeting of GSH1 and GSH2 is achieved by multiple transcription initiation: implications for the compartmentation of glutathione biosynthesis in the Brassicaceae.

The genome of Arabidopsis thaliana reveals that in this species the enzymes of glutathione biosynthesis, GSH1 and GSH2, are encoded by single genes. In silico analysis predicts proteins with putative plastidic transit peptides (TP) for both genes, but this has not been experimentally verified. Here we report a detailed analysis of the 5'ends of GSH1 and GSH2 mRNAs and demonstrate the subcellular targeting of the proteins encoded by different transcript types. GSH1 transcript analysis revealed two mRNA populations with short and long 5'-UTRs, respectively, both including the entire TP sequence. The ratio of long/total GSH1 transcripts was subject to developmental regulation. Transient transformation experiments with reporter gene fusions, bearing long or short 5'-UTRs, indicated an exclusive targeting of GSH1 to the plastids. Corroborating these results, endogenous and ectopically expressed GSH1 proteins were always present as a single polypeptide species with the size expected for correctly processed GSH1. Finally, the plastidic GSH1 localization was confirmed by immunocytochemistry. Similar to GSH1, multiple transcript populations were found for GSH2. However, here the prevalent shorter transcripts lacked a complete TP sequence. As expected, the large (but less abundant) transcript encoded a plastidic GSH2 protein, whereas GSH2 synthesized from the shorter transcript was targeted to the cytosol. The implications of the results for the compartmentation and regulation of GSH synthesis are discussed.

5' Flanking Region↗
PubMed1987

Nucleotide sequence and temporal expression of a baculovirus regulatory gene.

The nucleotide sequence of a trans-activating regulatory gene (IE-1) of the baculovirus Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus has been determined. This gene encodes a protein of 581 amino acids with a predicted molecular weight of 66,856. A DNA fragment containing the entire coding sequence of IE-1 was inserted downstream of an RNA promoter. Subsequent cell-free transcription and translation directed the synthesis of a single peptide with an apparent molecular weight of 70,000. Quantitative S1 nuclease analysis indicated that IE-1 was maximally synthesized during a 1-h virus adsorption period and that steady-state levels of IE-1 message were maintained during the first 24 h of infection. Northern blot hybridization indicated that several late transcripts which overlap the IE-1 gene were transcribed from both strands. The precise locations of the 5' and 3' ends of these overlapping transcripts were mapped using S1 nuclease. The overlapping transcripts were grouped in two transcriptional units. One unit was composed of IE-1 and overlapping gamma transcripts which initiated upstream of IE-1 and terminated downstream of IE-1. The other unit, transcribed from the opposite strand, consisted of gamma transcripts with coterminal 5' ends and extended 3' ends. The shorter, more abundant transcripts in this unit overlapped 30 to 40 bases of IE-1 at the 3' end, while the longer transcripts overlapped the entire IE-1 gene. Transcription of several early A. californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus genes, in addition to 39K, was shown to be trans-activated by IE-1, indicating that IE-1 may have a central role in the regulation of beta-gene expression.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2002

Pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines regulate insulin-like growth factor binding protein production by fetal rat lung fibroblasts.

The inflammatory response of the lung to noxious factors contributes to the pathogenesis of chronic lung injury. Inflammatory mediators regulate the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system, a key modulator of lung fibroblast proliferation. The activity of IGFs is regulated by IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs) secreted by lung cells. To investigate the regulation of lung fibroblast IGFBPs by cytokines, we exposed 19-d fetal rat lung fibroblasts to various pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators. IGFBP abundance in conditioned medium (CM) was measured by ligand blot and RNA transcript abundance by RNase protection assays. Fetal rat lung fibroblasts exposed to interleukin (IL)-1beta or tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha for 48 h demonstrated increased abundance of CM IGFBP-3 (5.9- and 4.7-fold increases for IL-1beta and TNF-alpha, respectively) and IGFBP-4 (5.7- and 7.4-fold increases for IL-1beta and TNF-alpha, respectively) that was accompanied by a small increase in IGFBP-4 mRNA and a larger increase in IGFBP-3 mRNA abundance. IGFBP-4 specific proteolysis was examined in CM collected from fetal rat lung fibroblasts after incubation with serum-free medium (SFM), IL-1beta, or TNF-alpha for 48 h. Cell-free aliquots of SFM-CM incubated at 37C for 24 h showed a 65% decrease in IGFBP-4 abundance that was inhibited by 1,10-phenanthroline. In contrast, CM from cells exposed to IL-1beta or TNF-alpha incubated at 37 degrees C for 24 h did not show a significant decrease in IGFBP-4 abundance unless IGF-I was present during the cell-free incubation. Addition of IGFBP-3 to aliquots of SFM-CM reversed the IGF-I-mediated acceleration of IGFBP-4 proteolysis. Similarly, addition of IGFBP-3 to cells in culture increased the accumulation of CM IGFBP-4. These results demonstrate that cytokines regulate IGFBP production and clearance by fetal lung cells and suggest a mechanism by which cytokines regulate cell proliferation following lung injury.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Assessment of the relationship between signal intensities and transcript concentration for Affymetrix GeneChip arrays.

BACKGROUND: Affymetrix microarrays have become increasingly popular in gene-expression studies; however, limitations of the technology have not been well established for commercially available arrays. The hybridization signal has been shown to be proportional to actual transcript concentration for specialized arrays containing hundreds of distinct probe pairs per gene. Additionally, the technology has been described as capable of distinguishing concentration levels within a factor of 2, and of detecting transcript frequencies as low as 1 in 2,000,000. Using commercially available arrays, we assessed these representations directly through a series of 'spike-in' hybridizations involving four prokaryotic transcripts in the absence and presence of fixed eukaryotic background. The contribution of probe-target interactions to the mismatch signal was quantified under various analyte concentrations. RESULTS: A linear relationship between transcript abundance and signal was consistently observed between 1 pM and 10 pM transcripts. The signal ceased to be linear above the 10 pM level and commenced saturating around the 100 pM level. The 0.1 pM transcripts were virtually undetectable in the presence of eukaryotic background. Our measurements show that preponderance of the signal for mismatch probes derives from interactions with the target transcripts. CONCLUSIONS: Landmark studies outlining an observed linear relationship between signal and transcript concentration were carried out under highly specialized conditions and may not extend to commercially available arrays under routine operating conditions. Additionally, alternative metrics that are not based on the difference in the signal of members of a probe pair may further improve the quantitative utility of the Affymetrix GeneChip array.

Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis↗
PubMed2006

Global analysis of mRNA stability in the archaeon Sulfolobus.

BACKGROUND: Transcript half-lives differ between organisms, and between groups of genes within the same organism. The mechanisms underlying these differences are not clear, nor are the biochemical properties that determine the stability of a transcript. To address these issues, genome-wide mRNA decay studies have been conducted in eukaryotes and bacteria. In contrast, relatively little is known about RNA stability in the third domain of life, Archaea. Here, we present a microarray-based analysis of mRNA half-lives in the hyperthermophilic crenarchaea Sulfolobus solfataricus and Sulfolobus acidocaldarius, constituting the first genome-wide study of RNA decay in archaea. RESULTS: The two transcriptomes displayed similar half-life distributions, with medians of about five minutes. Growth-related genes, such as those involved in transcription, translation and energy production, were over-represented among unstable transcripts, whereas uncharacterized genes were over-represented among the most stable. Half-life was negatively correlated with transcript abundance and, unlike the situation in other organisms, also negatively correlated with transcript length. CONCLUSION: The mRNA half-life distribution of Sulfolobus species is similar to those of much faster growing bacteria, contrasting with the earlier observation that median mRNA half-life is proportional to the minimal length of the cell cycle. Instead, short half-lives may be a general feature of prokaryotic transcriptomes, possibly related to the absence of a nucleus and/or more limited post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms. The pattern of growth-related transcripts being among the least stable in Sulfolobus may also indicate that the short half-lives reflect a necessity to rapidly reprogram gene expression upon sudden changes in environmental conditions.

DNA, Archaeal↗
PubMed2004

Gene expression analysis in platelets from a single donor: evaluation of a PCR-based amplification technique.

BACKGROUND: Genetic analysis of platelet mRNA may facilitate the diagnosis of disorders affecting the megakaryocytic-platelet lineage. Its use, however, is limited by the exceptionally small yield of platelet mRNA and the risk of leukocyte contamination during platelet preparation. METHODS: We depleted platelet suspensions of leukocytes by filtration and used a PCR-based RNA amplification step [switching mechanism at the 5' end of RNA templates (SMART)]. We tested the reliability and precision of the RNA amplification procedure by use of real-time PCR to measure quantities of specific transcripts: von Willebrand factor (vWF), A-subunit of coagulation factor XIII (F13A), and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). Microarray analysis was performed on platelet RNA with and without amplification. RESULTS: Microgram quantities of platelet-specific cDNAs were produced from as little as 50 ng of total platelet RNA or 40 mL of whole blood. At cycle numbers <16, amplification of all transcripts tested was exponential with slightly more efficient amplification of low-abundance transcripts. Expression profiling of 9850 genes gave identical results for 9815 genes (1576 positive/8239 negative). Eight transcripts failed to be amplified by the SMART procedure. Expression of vWF, F13A, and GAPDH transcripts showed only minor day-to-day variations in three healthy individuals. CONCLUSION: The proposed protocol makes extremely small amounts of platelet RNA available for gene expression analysis in single patients.

Blood Platelets↗
PubMed1992

The genomic organization of a novel regulatory myosin light chain gene (MYL5) that maps to chromosome 4p16.3 and shows different patterns of expression between primates.

Myosin participates in a varying repertoire of cellular functions ranging from cytokinesis, receptor capping and secretion to sarcomere contraction. In vertebrates this functional complexity is achieved through the regulated expression of gene families encoding isoproteins for each of the myosin subunits. We report here the identification and characterization of a gene (MYL5) that encodes a novel regulatory myosin light chain isoprotein and maps 700 kb from the human chromosome 4p telomere. Identical cDNAs have been isolated from human adult retina and fetal muscle cDNA libraries. A full length 519 bp open reading frame was identified in the cDNA sequence encoding a predicted protein of 173 residues. Sequence analysis of a 5.6 kb genomic region that encodes these cDNAs revealed the presence of 7 exons which span 4 kb. Expression of this gene has been detected in human adult retina, cerebellum, basal ganglia and fetal skeletal muscle. Whereas Northern analysis fails to detect transcription of this gene in human adult skeletal muscle it reveals an abundant transcript in monkey skeletal muscle. Phylogenetic comparison of the predicted proteins primary structure to those of related myosin light chains from Drosophila, rat and human reveal evolutionarily conserved structural motifs important for both calcium binding and phosphorylation.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Characterization of cDNAs representing five abscisic acid-responsive genes associated with somatic embryogenesis in Picea glauca, and their responses their responses to abscisic acid stereostructure.

Five abscisic acid (ABA)-responsive cDNAs that were identified by differential screening of a white spruce [Picea glauca (Moench) Voss] cotyledonary somatic embryo cDNA library are characterized. Three of the cDNAs (PgEMB12, 14, 15) are predicted to encode homologues of different late-embryogenesis-abundant (LEA) proteins, a further two (PgEMB 5 and 23) share little similarity to any known DNA or protein sequences. When suspension cultures were fed 1.5 x 10(5) M S-(+)-ABA and assessed for transcript abundance over 48 h, gene expression corresponding to each lea-like gene was inducible and was evident during the 48-h period. Conversely, transcripts were at a very low abundance when suspensions were fed R-(-)-ABA. When suspensions were treated with a range of S-(+)-ABA and R-(-)-ABA concentrations (10(-7)-10(-4) M), expression was induced at S-(+)-ABA concentrations of 10(-5) M or above. Expression corresponding to PgEMB5 and PgEMB23 indicates less specificity for ABA stereostructure, with similar expression patterns being observed for either enantiomer during the 48 h after feeding. The two corresponding genes also appear more responsive to ABA concentration than the predicted lea genes, within the range examined (10(-7)-10(-4) M).

Abscisic Acid↗
PubMed1988

Gonadal steroids regulate proenkephalin gene expression in a tissue-specific manner within the female reproductive system.

Proenkephalin gene expression undergoes marked changes within the female reproductive system of rodents during the estrous cycle and in pregnancy. In order to define the factors responsible for this regulation, the effects of 17-beta-estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) have been examined in the ovary and uterus. In the ovary of the rat and hamster, E2 and P4 were without effect on proenkephalin RNA levels when injected individually. However, P4 increased ovarian transcript abundance 2- to 3-fold after pretreatment of animals with E2. In the uterus of either species, E2 had little effect but P4 alone stimulated both proenkephalin RNA abundance and total content severalfold. Glucocorticoids and androgen reproduced this stimulatory effect on proenkephalin transcript levels. The interaction between E2 and P4 on proenkephalin gene expression in the uterus varied with species. In the rat, E2 inhibited stimulation by P4, while in the hamster uterus the two hormones had a synergistic effect, producing a 15-fold elevation of proenkephalin RNA abundance and a 50-fold increase in total uterine content. These distinct steroid responses appear to account for tissue- and species-related differences in the variation of proenkephalin gene expression during the estrous cycle in the rodent ovary and uterus. The stimulatory effect of P4 was shown to involve direct steroid action on the uterus and to be inhibited both by the steroid antagonist RU-486 and the transcriptional inhibitor actinomycin D. These data are consistent with receptor-mediated activation of proenkephalin gene transcription in uterine cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Coordination of nuclear and mitochondrial genome expression during mitochondrial biogenesis in Arabidopsis.

Mitochondrial biogenesis and function require the regulated and coordinated expression of nuclear and mitochondrial genomes throughout plant development and in response to cellular and environmental signals. To investigate the levels at which the expression of nuclear and mitochondrially encoded proteins is coordinated, we established an Arabidopsis thaliana cell culture system to modulate mitochondrial biogenesis in response to sugar starvation and refeeding. Sucrose deprivation led to structural changes in mitochondria, a decrease in mitochondrial volume, and a reduction in the rate of cellular respiration. All these changes could be reversed by the readdition of sucrose. Analysis of the relative mRNA transcript abundance of genes encoding nuclear and mitochondrially encoded proteins revealed that there was no coordination of expression of the two genomes at the transcript level. An analysis of changes in abundance and assembly of nuclear-encoded and mitochondrially encoded subunits of complexes I to V of the mitochondrial inner membrane in organello protein synthesis and competence for protein import by isolated mitochondria suggested that coordination occurs at the level of protein-complex assembly. These results further suggest that expression of the mitochondrial genome is insensitive to the stress imposed by sugar starvation and that mitochondrial biogenesis is regulated by changes in nuclear gene expression and coordinated at the posttranslational level.

Arabidopsis↗
PubMed1988

Multiple transcripts of the mouse tyrosinase gene are generated by alternative splicing.

We report the cloning and isolation of the mouse tyrosinase cDNA by screening mouse B16 melanoma cDNA libraries. Independent cDNA clones have been characterized by restriction enzyme analysis, hybridizations with individual subprobes and by partial sequencing analysis. Based on these criteria we have identified multiple transcripts, which in comparison to the major transcript, display deletions of internal sequences and have different 3' termini. The most abundant transcript encodes a functional tyrosinase. The structural gene which encodes five exons separated by large introns and spans a chromosomal region of approximately 70 kb has been isolated. Comparison of the cDNAs with the cloned genomic DNAs and sequencing of the exon/intron boundaries reveal that the multiple transcripts are generated by alternative splicing and putatively by alternate polyadenylation site usage. The alternative splicing mechanisms involve exon skipping as well as internal donor splice site usage. Primer extension analysis shows that the transcripts are produced from two different promoters. Southern blot analysis of DNAs derived from mice carrying the lethal albino deletion mutations demonstrates that the structural gene maps near or at the albino locus. The viable albino mouse BALB/c carries an apparently intact structural gene indicating that the albino phenotype is a consequence of a failure to express the tyrosinase gene or the inability to produce a tyrosinase enzyme.

Animals↗
PubMed2026

Integrative transcriptomic, spatial and functional-genomic analysis identifies a UFMylation-related vascular-stromal program and prioritizes WWTR1 in glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma (GBM) contains spatially organized stress-adaptive and vascular niches. Because transcript abundance does not measure UFM1 conjugation, we asked whether a UFMylation-related transcriptional axis identifies a reproducible tissue program and alters candidate prioritization. In 518 unique primary TCGA-GBM tumors profiled on the Affymetrix HT Human Genome U133A array, weighted gene co-expression network analysis of 8,000 variable genes yielded 12 modules. The 278-gene green module ranked first across nine prespecified traits (mean |r|=0.637). Direct overlap comprised 1/3 measurable UFMylation-core, 5/19 ER-stress/UPR, and 2/15 proteostasis genes; after excluding overlapping genes, correlations with the green eigengene remained significant (r&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.373, 0.831, 0.639, and 0.699 for UFMylation-core, ER-stress/UPR, proteostasis, and composite scores, respectively). The green score was associated with overall survival per standard-deviation increase (HR 1.17, 95% CI 1.07-1.28), although clinical adjustment attenuated the estimate. In a 10-sample single-cell dataset, sample-level scores were higher in pericytes and endothelial cells than in malignant cells. Donor-aware IvyGAP analysis supported regional organization, whereas one Visium section showed stronger concordance with ER-stress/UPR and mesenchymal scores than with the UFMylation-core score. CellChat indicated pathway-selective rather than global remodeling of inferred vascular communication. Layer ablation moved WWTR1 from rank 48 using WGCNA alone to rank 4 overall and rank 1 among non-common-essential genes after cross-platform integration. These findings define an ER-stress/mesenchymal-weighted, UFMylation-related vascular-stromal transcriptional association and nominate WWTR1 for experimental testing.

Humans↗
PubMed1993

Circular transcripts of the testis-determining gene Sry in adult mouse testis.

Sry is expressed at higher levels in the adult testis, where no function has been determined, than in the genital ridge, its critical site of action. cDNA and 5' RACE clones isolated from testis or from Sry-transfected cell lines have an unusual structure, with 3' sequences located in a 5' position. RNAase protection assays and reverse transcription polymerase chain reactions confirmed that these unusual RNA molecules represent the most abundant transcript in testis. Furthermore, oligonucleotide hybridization and RNAase H digestion proved that these Sry RNA molecules are circular. Similar transcripts were detected in the testes of mice with Mus musculus musculus, Mus musculus domesticus, and Mus spretus Sry genes. The circular RNA is found in the cytoplasm but is not substantially bound to polysomes. We suggest that the circles arise from normal splicing processes as a consequence of the unusual genomic structure surrounding the Sry locus in the mouse.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Expression and characterization of the substance P (NK1) receptor in the rat pituitary and AtT20 mouse pituitary tumor cells.

Although substance P is known to take part in the regulation of the anterior pituitary, no conclusive evidence for the expression of the tachykinin NK1 receptor has been found yet in the pituitary or pituitary derived cells. With the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method we could detect the low abundant transcripts of the NK1 receptor in the rat pituitary and in the AtT20 cell line (clone D16v). Furthermore, the functional expression of the NK1 receptor in AtT20 cells was confirmed by activation of the phosphatidylinositol-calcium second messenger system when the cells were treated with substance P. In addition, binding studies also indicated the functional expression of this receptor in AtT20 cells. Thus we provide the first evidence that the NK1 receptor is expressed in AtT20 cells and the rat pituitary.

Animals↗
PubMed2026

A single-nucleus transcriptome atlas of soybean anthers.

Anther development is crucial for plant sexual reproduction. However, a high-resolution, cell-type-specific transcriptomic atlas of this process is lacking for the legume crop soybean (Glycine max). Here, we construct a comprehensive transcriptional atlas of developing soybean anthers using single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq). We identify and characterize nine distinct cell types spanning both somatic and reproductive lineages. Our analysis reveals robust transcriptional continuity across anther developmental stages and dynamic reprogramming during key transitions. Notably, the shift from diploid meiocytes to haploid unicellular microspores is marked by the induction of previously inactive genes, despite an overall reduction in transcript abundance. Subsequently, within bicellular microspores, generative and vegetative cell lineages exhibit sharply divergent transcriptional programs: generative cells specialize in mRNA export and turnover, whereas vegetative cells up-regulate translational machinery. Evolutionary analysis further indicates that generative-cell-specific genes are subject to more relaxed purifying selection compared to those specific to vegetative cells. Functional validation using mutants generated by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing and EMS mutagenesis reveals the essential roles of OSD1A and PKSA in pollen development and fertility. This high-resolution atlas provides fundamental insights into the transcriptional regulation of soybean anther development and serves as a valuable resource for manipulating male fertility to advance hybrid breeding programs. The data are available at https://databases.genedenovo.com/pollen.

Glycine max↗
PubMed1997

Isolation and transcript analysis of gibberellin 20-oxidase genes in pea and bean in relation to fruit development.

PCR was used with degenerate primers based on conserved amino acid sequences in gibberellin (GA) 20-oxidases to isolate cDNA clones for these enzymes from young seeds of pea (Pisum sativum) and developing embryos of French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). One GA 20-oxidase cDNA (Ps27-12) was obtained from pea and three (Pv 15-11, Pv73-1 and Pv85-26) from bean. Their identities were confirmed by demonstrating that fusion proteins expressed in Escherichia coli exhibited GA 20-oxidase activity, converting [14C]GA12 to [14C]GA9. The intermediates in this three-step reaction, GA15 and GA24, were also identified as products. The expression proteins from three of the clones (Ps27-12, Pv15-11 and Pv73-1) were also shown to convert GA53 to GA20, as effectively as they did GA12. On the basis of transcript levels measured by northern blot analysis, the pea GA 20-oxidase gene is most highly expressed in young leaves, fully expanded internodes, very young seeds (until 4 days after anthesis) and expanding pods (from 3 days after anthesis at least until day 6). Expression in pods from 3-day-old unpollinated ovaries is higher than in those from pollinated ovaries. Treatment of unpollinated ovaries with GA3 to induce parthenocarpic fruit-set severely reduced the amount of GA 20-oxidase mRNA, whereas treatment with 2,4-D, although inducing fruit-set, did not reduce the levels of these transcripts. Plant decapitation above an unpollinated ovary resulted in very high levels of GA 20-oxidase mRNA in the pod. The three GA 20-oxidase genes from French bean showed very different patterns of expression: Pv 15-1 was expressed in the roots, young leaves, and developing seeds, but most highly in immature cotyledons, while Pv73-1 has a similar expression pattern to Ps27-12, with transcripts found only in young seeds and young leaves, where it was particularly abundant. Transcripts corresponding to Pv85-26 were detected in developing seeds, and just traces in the young leaves. Southern blot analysis indicated that the bean GA 20-oxidases are each encoded by single-copy genes, whereas one more gene, homologous to Ps27-12, could also exist in pea.

Amino Acid Sequence↗