ISSN:
1617-4623
Keywords:
Key words lys3a
;
CpG island
;
Transient expression
;
Particle bombardment
;
Immunocytochemistry
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Abstract B- and C-hordein gene transcription is severely reduced in the endosperm of the regulatory barley mutant lys3a, and this is correlated with persistent hypermethylation of the promoters. In contrast, D-hordein is expressed at normal levels in the mutant. To confirm the connection between methylation and transcriptional activity, a genomic D-hordein clone was isolated and sequenced. The nucleotide composition of the promoter region revealed a CpG island and methylation analysis, using bisulphite treatment of genomic DNA, confirmed that the D-hordein promoter is unmethylated in endosperm and leaf tissue. Immunocytochemical studies localized D-hordein to the reticular component of protein bodies in both the wild-type Bomi and lys3a. Transient expression of GUS reporter gene constructs in barley endosperm, following transfection by particle bombardment revealed the D-hordein promoter to be 3–5 fold more active than B- or C-hordein promoters. Comparison of transient expression in Bomi and lys3a endosperm demonstrated that the activities of the unmethylated D-hordein and the Hor1-14 C-hordein promoters were equivalent, while the activities in the mutant of the Hor1-17 C-hordein and the Hor2-4 B-hordein promoters were reduced two- and tenfold, respectively. Methylation of plasmids in vitro prior to expression severely inhibited B- and D-hordein promoter activities. Based on these observations two categories of promoters for endosperm-specific expression of storage proteins are recognized and a model involving methylation and modulation of chromatin structure in the regulation by the Lys3 gene is presented.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02172987
