title: C1- and R-dependent expression of the maize Bz1 gene requires sequences with homology to mammalian myb and myc binding sites.
abstract: Tissue-specific expression of the maize anthocyanin Bronze-1 (Bz1) gene is controlled by the products of several regulatory genes. These include C1 or Pl and R or B that share homology to the myb proto-oncogenes and myc-like genes, respectively. Bz1 expression in embryo tissues is dependent on C1 and an R-sc allele of R. Transient expression from mutated and deleted versions of the Bz1 promoter fused to a luciferase reporter gene was measured in C1, Rscm2 embryos after gene transfer by microprojectiles. This analysis revealed that the sequences between -76 base pairs (bp) and -45 bp and a 9-bp AT-rich block between -88 bp and -80 bp were critical for Bz1 expression. The -76 bp to -45 bp region includes two short sequences that are homologous to the consensus binding sites of the myb- and myc-like proteins. Site-specific mutations of these "myb" and "myc" sequences reduced Bz1 expression to 10% and 1% of normal, respectively. Additionally, a trimer of a 38-bp oligonucleotide containing these myb and myc sites increased the expression of a cauliflower mosaic virus 35S minimal promoter by 26-fold. This enhancement was dependent on both C1 and R. Because the sites critical for Bz1 expression are homologous to the myb and myc consensus binding sequences and the C1 and R proteins share homology with the myb and myc products, respectively, we propose that C1 and R interact with the Bz1 promoter at these sites.
authors.affiliation: Plant Gene Expression Center, United States Department of Agriculture/University of California, Berkeley, Albany 94710.
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Roth
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Goff
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Fromm
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D017343:Genes, Plant; D016259:Genes, myc; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009857:Oncogenes; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D013045:Species Specificity; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003313:Zea mays / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D010940:Plant Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators