Molecular Characterization of the waxy Locus of Rice (Oryza sativa)

概要

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The gene at the waxy (wx) locus in rice was cloned and the nucleotide sequence of the coding region was determined. The wx+ gene from rice was composed of a number of exons and introns. The deduced amino acid sequence indicated that the predicted polypeptide is composed of a putative transit peptide of 77 amino acids and a mature protein region of 532 amino acids. The putative transit peptide, which may be essential for transporting the product of the gene at the wx locus (wx^+ protein) into the amyloplast, has some characteristic features similar to those of the transit peptide associated with proteins to be transported into the chloroplast. An antiserum against the rice wx^+ protein (anti-WXP serum) was prepared and the expression of the wx locus was examined by the Northern blotting analysis using DNA cloned from the rice wx locus and by the immunoblotting analysis using the anti-WXP serum. The expression of the wx^+ gene was regulated in a tissue-specific manner, namely, it was expressed only in the endosperm and pollen. The wx^+ gene was active at the early and middle stages and was almost inactive at the late stage of seed development. During active transcription of the gene, the wx^+ protein appears to accumulate linearly.
日本植物生理学会の論文