Abstract
β-Amylase deficiency in various cultivars of rice was examined at the molecular level. Using an antibody against β-amylase purified from germinating seeds of rice, we were able to demonstrate the expression and organization of the β-amylase gene in normal and deficient cultivars. Although β-amylase is a starch-hydrolyzing enzyme, as is α-amylase, the β-amylase protein/gene is expressed differently from the α-amylase protein/gene; i.e. (1) β-amylase is synthesized only in aleurone cells, (2) the enzyme production in the embryo-less half-seeds is not under hormonal control. We identified some cultivars of rice that are deficient for β-amylase activity. We present new evidence that synthesis is blocked at the level of mRNA synthesis in the deficient cultivars. The usefulness of β-amylase as a crop trait is also discussed.
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Received: 8 May 1998 / Accepted: 5 June 1998
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Yamaguchi, J., Itoh, S., Saitoh, T. et al. Characterization of β-amylase and its deficiency in various rice cultivars. Theor Appl Genet 98, 32–38 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/s001220051036
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s001220051036