Somatic variation during long term subculturing of plant cells caused by insertion of a transposable element in a phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) gene

We have identified a new En/Spm-like transposable element, Tdc1, in the 5′ flanking region of a phenylalanine ammonia-lyase gene (gDcPAL1) that is normally induced by transferring cells of carrot suspension cultures to fresh liquid medium (transfer or dilution effect). The initial integration into gDcPAL1 occurred more than 4 years after culture initiation. Tdc1 was first detected in gDcPAL1 genomic clones of a genomic library made from cells of the same cultured cell line 7 years after its initiation and thus following repeated subculturing. Twelve years after initiation, about 5–10% of the cells had Tdc1 inserted into the gDcPAL1 gene, indicating that Tdc1 insertion into gDcPAL1 occurred in one (or more) cell(s) during the first 4–7 years of subculturing. These mutant cells did not disappear during numerous passages; instead the proportion of cells having this Tdc1 inserted into gDcPAL1 has been increasing over the last 5 years. The promoter activity and the inducibility by transfer/dilution of the gDcPAL1 gene harboring Tdc1 is reduced relative to wild type. Finally, we show that insertion of a transposable element is one of the mechanisms that can cause variation of plant cell cultures during repeated subculture. Received: 11 October 1996 / Accepted: 27 December 1996     

Structural organisation,expression, and promoter analysis of a 16R isoform of 14-3-3 protein gene from potato

Six full-length cDNAs encoding 14-3-3 proteins from potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Desiree) plants have been recently isolated and sequenced. Screening of a potato genomic library with the 16R cDNA encoding 14-3-3 protein isoform resulted in the identification and isolation of the respective genomic clone. The gene contains four exons and three introns. Inspection of the promoter sequence of the 16R gene revealed several boxes important for the regulation of the gene expression. The induction of the promoter activity by sucrose, IAA, ABA and salicylic acid has been shown. Dof protein-binding sequences, E-boxes and sequences responsible for developmental regulation are most frequently represented. Northern blot and fluorometric analyses, as well as the microscopic examination of transgenic potato plants transformed with GUS reporter under 14-3-3 protein promoter, provide evidence for tissue-specific expression and age-dependent promoter activity. Significant GUS expression was observed in young organs or organ portions, as well as in minor vascular bundles of mature organs.     

Functional analysis of a Douglas-fir metallothionein-like gene promoter: transient assays in zygotic and somatic embryos and stable transformation in transgenic tobacco

Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii [Mirb] Franco) metallothionein (PmMT) cDNA encodes a novel cysteine- and serine-rich MT, indicating a new subtype or prototype MT from which other plant MTs may have evolved. A genomic library of Douglas-fir was screened using MT cDNA probes, and genomic sequences that mediate tissue-specific, temporal as well as inducible expression of the embryo-specific MT-gene were analyzed. The promoter region of the PmMT genomic clone (gPmMT) contained a hexameric G-box, two putative ethylene-responsive elements and an inverted repeat of a motif similar to the core metal regulatory element. Interestingly, comparison of the upstream region of Douglas-fir gPm2S1 and gPmMTa genes revealed a conserved motif, CATTATTGA, not found in any known angiosperm gene promoter. Chimeric gene constructs containing a series of deletions in the gPmMTa promoter fused to the uidA reporter gene were assayed in Douglas-fir and transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.). Transient-expression assays in Douglas-fir megagametophyte and zygotic embryos indicated that the sequence –190 to +88 of gPmMTa was sufficient to drive the expression of the reporter gene and that the 225-bp fragment (–677 to –453) contained sequences necessary for high-level expression. In transgenic tobacco seedlings the -glucuronidase activity was localized in the vacuolar tissue and proliferating tissue of the auxiliary buds and stem elongation zone. The gPmMTa promoter was not active in the seeds of transgenic tobacco or in the roots of seedlings up to 3 weeks old. Detailed studies of transient expression and stable transformation provided important information on evolutionary conservation as well as novel features found in the conifer promoter. This is the first report of an MT-like gene promoter from conifers.     

Transcriptional analysis of the titin cap gene

Mutations in titin cap (Tcap), also known as telethonin, cause limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2G (LGMD2G). Tcap is one of the titin interacting Z-disc proteins involved in the regulation and development of normal sarcomeric structure. Given the essential role of Tcap in establishing and maintaining normal skeletal muscle architecture, we were interested in determining the regulatory elements required for expression of this gene in myoblasts. We have defined a highly conserved 421 bp promoter proximal promoter fragment that contains two E boxes and multiple putative Mef2 binding sequences. This promoter can be activated by MyoD and myogenin in NIH3T3 fibroblast cells, and maintains the differentiated cell-specific expression pattern of the endogenous Tcap in C2C12 cells. We find that while both E boxes are required for full activation by MyoD or myogenin in NIH3T3 cells, the promoter proximal E box has a greater contribution to activation of this promoter in C2C12 cells and to activation by MyoD in NIH3T3 cells. Together, the data suggest an important role for MyoD in activating Tcap expression through the promoter proximal E box. We also show that myogenin is required for normal expression in vivo and physically binds to the Tcap promoter during embryogenesis.     

Abscisic acid-inducible nuclear proteins bind to bipartite promoter elements required for ABA response and embryo-regulated expression of the carrot<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Dc3</Emphasis> gene

The carrot (Daucus carota L.) lea-class gene Dc3 is expressed in developing seeds and in vegetative tissues subject to drought and treatment with exogenous abscisic acid (ABA). Cis regulatory elements involved in seed-specific expression and in response to ABA were identified in transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) using -glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene constructs containing a series of deletion and orientation mutants of the Dc3 promoter. These experiments demonstrated that the Dc3 promoter is comprised of a proximal promoter region (PPR) and a distal promoter region (DPR). TCGTGT motifs in the DPR in combination with the PPR comprise a novel, bipartite ABA module in the Dc3 gene promoter. The PPR contains cis-acting elements responsible for the developmental regulation of Dc3 expression in seeds. Five similar sequence motifs with the consensus ACACgtGCa were identified in the PPR. Both DPR and PPR interact with common nuclear proteins that are present in embryos and are inducible by ABA in vegetative tissues.     

Structure and chromosomal localization of the mouse oncomodulin gene

The rat gene encoding oncomodulin (OM), a small calcium-binding protein, is under the control of a solo LTR derived from an endogenous intracisternal A-particle. The latter sequence is the only OM promoter analyzed so far. In order to study cell-type-specific OM expression in a species lacking LTR sequences in the OM locus, we initially synthesized an OM cDNA from mouse placenta. By sequencing, we found a 137-bp-long 5 leader region that differed markedly from its rat counterpart but had high similarity to several mouse genomic sequences. Primers specific to this sequence in addition with primers specific for an exon 2/intron 2 sequence were used to screen a mouse ES cell line genomic P1 library. One positive clone contained the whole OM gene, including intron 1 of 25 kb and a 5 flanking region of 27 kb lacking an LTR. The region upstream of exon 1 contains no TATA or CCAAT boxes but has a homopurine/homopyrimidine stretch of 102 bp as well as a (CA)₂₂ repeat. The latter sequence is polymorphic and was therefore, used to map the OM gene to the distal end of the long arm of mouse Chromosome (Chr) 5 by interspecific backcross analysis. Additonally we localized the OM gene by in situ hybridization to the region G1-3 on Chr 5, confirming the genetic linkage results. Finally, the OM gene was found to be structurally conserved and to exist in a single copy in mammals.     

Genomic organization and DNA sequences of human 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase genes and flanking regions. Localization of multiple Alu sequences and putative cis-acting elements.

Genomic 17 beta-hydroxysteroid-dehydrogenase (17-HSD) clones were isolated from a human leucocyte genomic library using cDNA encoding human placental 17-HSD as a probe. The overlapping fragments spanned more than 21 kbp containing the duplications, 6.2 kbp of each, as well as 7 kbp upstream and 1.6 kbp downstream from the duplicated sequences. 17 complete and eight partial Alu elements were clustered in this area, covering about 30% of the region, including the borders of the duplications. Each duplication contained a 17-HSD gene and a conserved region of 1.56 kbp with 98% intercopy similarity. The exon structure of the 17-HSD gene II corresponded to the known cDNA species, but both genes contained a possible promoter region with TATA, GC and inverse CAAT boxes. The 5' flanking regions contained sequences similar to the consensus sequences of cis-acting elements, defined as regulators of 17-HSD gene expression. These putative sequences included estrogen and progesterone/glucocorticoid-response elements and a cyclic-AMP regulatory element.     

Upregulation of the promoter activity of the carrot (Daucus carota) phenylalanine ammonia-lyase gene (DcPAL3) is caused by new members of the transcriptional regulatory proteins, DcERF1 and DcERF2, which bind to the GCC-box homolog and act as an activator to the DcPAL3 promoter

The phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) gene, DcPAL3, was expressed during the synthesis of anthocyanin in suspension-cultured cells of carrot (Daucus carota). There were two putative cis-elements in the DcPAL3 promoter region: the box-L and GCC-box homologs. Both of these are committed to the upregulation of promoter activity. Although box-L is known as the conserved cis-element present in the promoter region of most PAL genes of many plant species targeted by the R2R3-MYB protein, among PAL genes, the GCC-box homolog is unique to the promoter region of the DcPAL3 gene. We have isolated two proteins belonging to the ethylene-responsive element-binding factor (ERF) family, DcERF1 and DcERF2, from two different cDNA libraries prepared from anthocyanin-synthesizing cells of different cultured cell lines of carrot. The methodology employed was yeast one-hybrid screening with the GCC-box homolog as a bait. Both DcERF1 and DcERF2 bound to the GCC-box homolog sequence in vitro. Transient expression analysis showed that, in carrot protoplasts, DcERF1 was able bind to the GCC-box homolog and act as an activator of the DcPAL3 promoter. In contrast, DcERF2 itself had no ability to activate DcPAL3 promoter activity, possibly because transiently expressed DcERF2 may not be exported into the nucleus. These results suggest that DcERF1 and DcERF2 may function in different ways in committing to the upregulation of the DcPAL3 promoter activity in anthocyanin-synthesizing cells of carrot.     

Genomic Cloning and Characterization of a Novel Lectin Gene from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Zantedeschia aethiopica</Emphasis>

A new lectin gene was isolated by using genomic walker technology and revealed to encode a mannose-binding lectin. Analysis of a 2233 bp segment revealed a gene including a 1169 bp 5′ flanking region, a 417 bp open reading frame (ORF) and a 649 bp 3′ flanking region. There are two putative TATA boxes and eight possible CAAT boxes lie in the 5′ flanking region. The ORF encodes a 15.1 kDa precursor, which contains a 24-amino acid signal peptide. One possible polyadenylation signal is found in the 3′-flanking region. No intron was detected within the region of genomic sequence corresponding to zaa (Zantedeschia aethiopica agglutinin) full-length cDNA, which is typical of other mannose-binding lectin gene that have been reported. The deduced amino acid sequence of the lectin gene coding region shares 49–54% homology with other known lectins. The cloning of this new lectin gene will allow us to further study its structure, expression and regulation mechanisms.     

The scutellar vascular bundle-specific promoter of the wheat HD-Zip IV transcription factor shows similar spatial and temporal activity in transgenic wheat, barley and rice

An HD‐Zip IV gene from wheat, TaGL9, was isolated using a Y1H screen of a cDNA library prepared from developing wheat grain. TaGL9 has an amino acid sequence distinct from other reported members of the HD‐Zip IV family. The 3′ untranslated region of TaGL9 was used as a probe to isolate a genomic clone of the TaGL9 homologue from a BAC library prepared from Triticum durum L. cv. Langdon. The full‐length gene containing a 3‐kb‐long promoter region was designated TdGL9H1. Spatial and temporal activity of TdGL9H1 was examined using promoter‐GUS fusion constructs in transgenic wheat, barley and rice plants. Whole‐mount and histochemical GUS staining patterns revealed grain‐specific expression of TdGL9H1. GUS expression was initially observed between 3 and 8 days after pollination (DAP) in embryos at the globular stage and adjacent to the embryo fraction of the endosperm. Expression was strongest in the outer cell layer of the embryo. In developed wheat and barley embryos, strong activity of the promoter was only detected in the main vascular bundle of the scutellum, which is known to be responsible for the uptake of nutrients from the endosperm during germination and the endosperm‐dependent phase of seedling development. Furthermore, this pattern of GUS staining was observed in dry seeds several weeks after harvesting but quickly disappeared during imbibition. The promoter of this gene could be a useful tool for engineering of early seedling vigour and protecting the endosperm to embryo axis pathway from pathogens during grain desiccation and storage.