Pollen-specific expression of theArabidopsis thaliana α1-tubulin promoter assayed by β-glucuronidase,chloramphenicol acetyltransferase and diphtheria toxin reporter genespromoter assayed by β-glucuronidase,chloramphenicol acetyltransferase and diphtheria toxin reporter genes

We have characterized the promoter specificity of theArabidopsis thaliana α₁-tubulin (α ₁-tub) gene by studying expression patterns of gene fusions between the 2.2 kbp 5′ upstream region of theα ₁-tub gene and each of three different reporters: chloramphenical acetyltransferase, β-glucuronidase or the diphtheria toxin chain A gene. Analysis of transgenic tobacco andArabidopsis plants carrying the transgene showed that the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase and β-glucuronidase activities were not detected in any vegetative or reproductive organs except mature pollen. Transgenic tobacco plants carrying the diphtheria toxin chain A gene under the control of theα ₁-tub promoter were of normal phenotype but seed fertility was drastically reduced. Furthermore, the transgene could not be transmitted to the next generation through pollen, supporting the observation that theα ₁-tub promoter is active only in pollen. It was observed that the promoter activity was most active in mature pollen and decreased significantly duringin vitro pollen germination, indicating that the promoter is inactive or subdued in germinating pollen. The promoter activity was not affected by various plant growth hormones during pollen maturation.     

Characterization of a pollen-specific gene family from Brassica napus which is activated during early microspore development

In this paper we describe the isolation and characterization of a genomic clone (Bp4) from Brassica napus which contains three members of a pollen-specific multigene family. This family is composed of 10 to 15 closely related genes which are expressed in early stages of microspore development. The complete nucleotide sequence of the clone Bp4 and of three homologous cDNA clones is reported. One of the genes (Bp4B) contained in the genomic clone is believed to be non-functional because of sequence rearrangements in its 5 region and intron splicing sites. The remaining genes (Bp4A and Bp4C), as well as the cDNA clones, appear to code for small proteins of unique structure. Three different types of proteins can be predicted as a result of the deletion of carboxy or amino terminal portions of a conserved core protein. These proteins all share a common alternation of hydrophobic and hydrophilic domains. A fragment of the genomic clone containing the gene Bp4A, as well as the non-functional gene Bp4B, was introduced into tobacco plants via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The functional gene Bp4A is expressed in transgenic tobacco plants and shows spatial and temporal regulation consistent with the expression patterns seen in Brassica napus.     

小麦花粉特异性表达的cDNA的分离及表达特性

应用抑制差示杂交和5′/3′RACE PCR方法分离了小麦(Triticum aestivum L.)花粉特异性表达的全长cDNA(TaPSG719,GenBank:AY451238)),该基因全长1172 bp,5′非编码区序列长达329 bp,包含多个上游可译框架(uORF);该基因编码188个氨基酸的蛋白质,大小约20 kD,等电点为12.1。Northern杂交和RT-PCR分析表明该基因在成熟花粉特异表达,而在小孢子、叶片、根和未成熟的种子、幼茎和子房等组织几乎检测不到。进一步研究小麦花粉发育过程的表达水平表明,TaPSG719在单核和双核小孢子阶段不表达,在开花前5d(已完成有丝分裂)开始表达并迅速增强达到高峰,但随着花粉的成熟表达水平逐渐下降。表明TaPSG719是一个花粉中晚期特异性表达基因。经BLAST同源性分析表明,与目前已登录的基因没有显著的同源性。Southern杂交表明TaPSG719可能为一个多拷贝基因。为研究TaPSG719 cDNA 5′非编码区序列的uORF对可译框架的翻译的影响,构建不同缺失或突变的表达载体,采用麦胚体外翻译系统,结果显示含uORF的5′非编码区序列能显著抑制蛋白质的翻译水平,表明TaPSG719基因表达至少部分是在翻译水平上调控。     

Cloning and characterization of a pollen-specific cDNA encoding a glutamic-acid-rich protein (GARP) from potato Solanum berthaultii

A pollen-specific cDNA was isolated from a cDNA library of in vitro germinated pollen of the diploid potato species Solanum berthaultii. The cDNA clone, designated SB401, hybridizes to a messenger RNA of 1.2 kb length in mature and germinated pollen. SB401 messenger RNA is absent from other parts of the plant, including other flower tissues. SB401 cDNA, which possesses a long stretch of AT-rich 5-untranslated leader sequence, encodes a glutamic acid-rich protein (GARP) which is hydrophilic throughout and contains six imperfect repeated motifs of the sequence V-V-E-K-K-N/E-E with the di-basic amino acid residue pair (K-K) as the core within the repeats. These repeats are spaced at irregular intervals and predicted to form an -helical structure. The SB401 protein was over-expressed in Escherichia coli and the purified protein was used for raising antiserum. Both E. coli-expressed and the endogenous SB401 proteins in pollen and pollen tubes appear much larger on SDS-polyacrylamide gels than their calculated molecular masses. Immunoblotting revealed the protein to be most abundant in germinated pollen. The structural features of SB401 protein and a possible role for the protein in pollen development, pollen germination, and pollen tube growth are discussed.     

Molecular characterization of mature pollen-specific genes encoding novel small cysteine-rich proteins in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

In our previous cDNA microarray analysis, we identified 53 mature anther-specific genes, whose function was unknown, in rice. We reanalyzed these genes from the viewpoint of the specific amino acid motif. Out of 53 genes, three genes, Os-26, Os-32, and Os-169 (renamed as OsSCP1, OsSCP2, and OsSCP3), encoded cysteine-rich motif (Cys-X₃-Cys-X₁₃-Cys-X₃-Cys), indicating that they were novel small cysteine-rich proteins. From the search of specific elements in promoter regions, several pollen-specific elements were found. In order to determine whether three promoters were functional in pollen or not, the gene constructs with promoter regions fused to the β-glucuronidase gene were transformed into tobacco. Histochemical analysis showed that these promoters were active in the mature pollen grains and pollen tubes. Furthermore, OsSCP1 and OsSCP3 formed a multigene family tandemly in the rice genome. From the results, OsSCPs might have important roles in mature pollen development and pollen tube growth.     

Dissection of a pollen-specific promoter from maize by transient transformation assays

We have previously reported the isolation and characterization of a gene (Zm 13) from Zea mays which shows a pollen-specific pattern of expression. Stably transformed tobacco plants containing a reporter gene linked to portions of the Zm 13 5 flanking region show correct temporal and spatial expression of the gene. Here we present a more detailed analysis of the 5 regions responsible for expression in pollen by utilizing a transient expression system. Constructs containing the -glucuronidase (GUS) gene under the control of various sized fragments of the Zm13 5 flanking region were introduced into Tradescantia and Zea mays pollen via high-velocity microprojectile bombardment, and monitored both visually and with a fluorescence assay. The results suggest that sequences necessary for expression in pollen are present in a region from –100 to –54, while other sequences which amplify that expression reside between –260 and –100. The replacement of the normal terminator with a portion of the Zm13 3 region containing the putative polyadenylation signal and site also increased GUS expression. While the –260 to –100 region contains sequences similar to other protein-binding domains reported for plants, the –100 to –54 region appears to contain no significant homology to other known promoter fragments which direct pollen-specific expression. The microprojectile bombardment of Tradescantia pollen appears to be a good test system for assaying maize and possibly other monocot promoter constructs for pollen expression.     

小麦花粉特异性表达的cDNA的分离及表达特性

应用抑制差示杂交和5′/3′RACE PCR方法分离了小麦(Triticum aestivum L.)花粉特异性表达的全长cDNA(TaPSG719,GenBank:AY451238)),该基因全长1 172 bp,5′非编码区序列长达329 bp,包含多个上游可译框架(uORF);该基因编码1 88个氨基酸的蛋白质,大小约20 kD,等电点为12.1.Northern杂交和RT-PCR分析表明该基因在成熟花粉特异表达,而在小孢子、叶片、根和未成熟的种子、幼茎和子房等组织几乎检测不到.进一步研究小麦花粉发育过程的表达水平表明,TaPSG719在单核和双核小孢子阶段不表达,在开花前5 d(已完成有丝分裂)开始表达并迅速增强达到高峰,但随着花粉的成熟表达水平逐渐下降.表明TaPSG719是一个花粉中晚期特异性表达基因.经BLAST同源性分析表明,与目前已登录的基因没有显著的同源性.Southern杂交表明TaPSG719可能为一个多拷贝基因.为研究TaPSG719 cDNA 5′非编码区序列的uORF对可译框架的翻译的影响,构建不同缺失或突变的表达载体,采用麦胚体外翻译系统,结果显示含uORF的5′非编码区序列能显著抑制蛋白质的翻译水平,表明TaPSG719基因表达至少部分是在翻译水平上调控.     

A monocot pollen-specific promoter contains separable pollen-specific and quantitative elements

The region of the promoter of the pollen-specific maize gene, ZM13, from -119 to -37 was analyzed by a linker-scanning type of substitution mutagenesis and two areas were shown to be responsible for pollen expression: a proximal region delineated by mutations from -84 to -53 that conferred pollen specificity, and an upstream region delineated by a mutation from -107 to -102 (Q-element) that could increase the expression of the proximal region but showed no ability to cause expression in pollen on its own. Replacement of both of these areas with other sequences including the CaMV 35S promoter failed to replace activity.