Both internal and external regulatory elements control expression of the pea Fed-1 gene in transgenic tobacco seedlings.

In previous studies using leaves of light-grown transgenic tobacco plants, we have shown that sequences located within the transcribed region of the pea Fed-1 gene (encoding ferredoxin I) are major cis-acting determinants of light-regulated mRNA accumulation. However, we show here that these internal sequences are less important for the Fed-1 light response in etiolated tobacco seedlings than they are in green leaves and that upstream elements confer organ specificity and contribute significantly to Fed-1 light responses in etiolated material. Light effects mediated by upstream response elements are thus most pronounced during the initial induction of gene activity, whereas internal elements play a more prominent role in modulating Fed-1 expression once the gene is already active.     

Light regulatory sequences are located within the 5'' portion of the Fed-1 message sequence.

We have previously shown that element(s) mediating a light-induced increase in the abundance of Fed-1 mRNA in the leaves of transgenic tobacco plants are located within the transcribed portion of the gene. As part of an effort to define the mechanism of this effect, we report here that cis-acting elements capable of mediating a 5-fold light-induced increase in the abundance of this mRNA are located within a region comprising the 5' leader and first third of the Fed-1 coding sequence. No activity was detected in the 3' untranslated region of the gene. In a gain-of-function assay, the 5' region was found to be capable of conferring light responsiveness on three different reporter sequences, although experiments with the gusA reporter were complicated by an apparent negative light effect on the stability of this mRNA. Deletion experiments show that at least one essential light regulatory element is located in the 5' untranslated region of Fed-1 between nucleotides +19 and +57. Additional Fed-1 sequences, including a portion of the protein coding region, are required to confer positive responsiveness on the gusA reporter. These additional sequences may include specific light regulatory elements or simply provide an environment in which the leader element can function normally.     

Isolation, characterization and evolutionary relatedness of three members from the soybean multigene family encoding chlorophyll a/b binding proteins.

The soybean light-harvesting complex II (LHC II) was composed of one major and three minor chlorophyll a/b (Cab) binding proteins. This study demonstrated that the soybean genome contained at least 11 genes that code for these Cab proteins. Three members of the soybean Cab gene family were characterized. Cab 3 coded for a 25.7 kD mature apoprotein with a 32 amino acid transit peptide. Comparisons with previously published Cab protein sequences indicated that Cab 3 coded for the major Cab protein of LHC II. Cab 2 coded for a novel Cab protein with an apparent molecular weight of 24.6 kD. Cab 2 retained a high degree of similarity with Cab 3, but distinguished itself from previously reported minor photosystem II type II Cab genes and products. Finally, Cab 1 was determined to be a pseudogene that had two deletions relative to Cab 2 and Cab 3.