Sequence variation at theSec-1 locus of rye,Secale cereale (Poaceae)

This paper describes the structure of a 9.2-kb repeat unit of DNA, which represents one-secalin gene and spacer sequence located at theSec-1 locus on the short arm of chromosome 1 of rye. The gene units at theSec-1 locus comprise 1.1 kb representing the gene and 8.1 kb of spacer sequence separating the genes. A sequence comparison of nine genes and their promoter regions from theSec-1 locus, reveals that there is greater variation within the coding sequence than there is within the promoter regions. The gene sequence variation is discussed in terms of the size variation seen for the-secalin proteins in rye species. The results include a comparison of promoter sequences from members of the Triticeae to examine the degree of conservation between other seed storage protein genes.     

Multiple interactions between nuclear proteins of Zea mays and the promoter of the Shrunken gene

Summary Nuclear proteins were extracted from isolated nuclei of immature maize kernels. The promoter region (1.5 kb) of the Shrunken gene, which is highly transcribed in the developing endosperm of the kernel, was scanned for protein-DNA interactions. Several promoter fragments showed protein-DNA complex formation in gel retardation experiments. Two different nucleo-protein complexes (MNP1 and MNP2) have been distinguished in competition and DNase I footprinting experiments. Both nuclear DNA-binding activities are able to recognize multiple sites distributed over a 1.5 kb upstream region of the Shrunken gene. Some of the binding sites established in the in vitro reconstitution experiments are located near to DNase I hypersensitive sites found in the promoter of the Shrunken gene (Frommer and Starlinger 1988).     

Isolation and promoter characterization of barley geneItr1 encoding trypsin inhibitor BTI-CMe: differential activity in wild-type and mutantlys3a endosperm

The geneItr1, encoding trypsin inhibitor BTI-CMe, has been obtained from a genomic library ofHordeum vulgare L. The gene has no introns and presents in its 5-upstream region 605 bp that are homologous to the long terminal repeats (LTR) of the copia-like retro-transposon Bare-1. Functional analysis of theItr1 promoter by transient expression in protoplasts derived from different barley tissues, has shown that in this system theItr1 promoter retains its endosperm specifity and thetrans-regulation mediated by theLys3a gene. The proximal promoter extending 343 bp upstream of the translation initiation ATG codon is sufficient to confer fullGUS expression and for endosperm specifity. In protoplasts derived from thelys3a mutant, Risø 1508,GUS activity was less than 5% of that obtained with the same constructs in the protoplasts of wild-type Bomi from which it derives. Gel retardation experiments, after incubation with proteins obtained from both types of endosperm nuclei, also show differential patterns. Possible reasons for these differences are discussed.Equal authours     

Characterization of the cea gene of the ColE7 plasmid.

Summary The complete nucleotide sequence (1731 nucleotides) of the gene encoding colicin E7 (cea) of plasmid CoIE7-K317 was determined. This sequence encoded a deduced polypeptide of 576 amino acids of molecular weight 61349 Da. Comparison of the nucleotide and amino acid sequences ofcea E7 with those of other E-group colicins revealed that colicin E7 was closely related to colicin E2, both in gene sequence and in predicted secondary structure of the deduced protein. Judging from the results of cross-immunity tests, we postulated that CoIE7 is probably a proximate ancestor of Co1E2 and Co1E8. Based on results from colicin production tests on cells harboring a 5 end deleted form of thecea E7 gene, we propose, that a previously unknown, non-inducible promoter may be involved in regulation of the constitutive expression of thecea E7 gene.     

Effects of promoters on the enhancement of pectin methyl esterase expression inAspergillus niger

Summary A pectin methylesterase-encoding gene (pmeA)_has been cloned and transformed intoA. niger wild-type NRRL3. Transformants produced 20-fold more PME than the host strain. For studying the effects of different promoters on thepmeA expression two novel plasmids were constructed, in which thepmeA promoter was replaced by efficient promoters such as theA. nidulans glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (pK45) or theA. oryzae -amylase (pK61) promoter. The highest level of PME expression was achieved with theA. oryzae -amylase promoter, reaching a 200-fold increase compared to the production by the host strain.