Root-specific expression of a Zea mays gene encoding a novel glycine-rich protein,zmGRP3

The isolation and characterization of a cDNA clone from Zea mays coding for a novel glycine-rich protein (GRP) is described. The corresponding 1.4 kb mRNA accumulates exclusively in roots (primary, lateral seminal and crown roots) of young maize seedlings, following developmentally specific patterns. In agreement with previously described GRPs from other plant species the derived protein sequence exhibits a hydrophobic domain at the N-terminal region followed by repeated glycine-rich motifs. Genomic Southern analysis indicates that the zmGRP3 gene is present in the maize genome as one or two copies or at a low copy number.     

Characterization of a maize ribosomal P2 protein cDNA and phylogenetic analysis of the P1/P2 family of ribosomal proteins

The nucleotide sequence of a full-length ribosomal P2 protein cDNA from maize was determined and used for a sequence comparison with the P2 and P1 proteins from other organisms. The integration of these data into a phylogenetic tree shows that the P proteins separated into the subspecies P1 and P2 before the eukaryotic kingdoms including plants developed from their ancestor.