Soybean beta-conglycinin genes are clustered in several DNA regions and are regulated by transcriptional and posttranscriptional processes.
We investigated the chromosomal organization and developmental regulation of soybean beta-conglycinin genes. The beta-conglycinin gene family contains at least 15 members divided into two major groups encoding 2.5-kilobase and 1.7-kilobase embryo mRNAs. beta-Conglycinin genes are clustered in several DNA regions and are highly homologous along their entire lengths. The two groups differ by the presence or absence of specific DNA segments. These DNA segments account for the size differences in beta-conglycinin mRNAs. The 2.5-kilobase and 1.7-kilobase beta-conglycinin mRNAs accumulate and decay at different times during embryogenesis. By contrast, genes encoding these mRNAs are transcriptionally activated and repressed at the same time periods. Our studies indicate that the beta-conglycinin family evolved by both duplication and insertion/deletion events, and that beta-conglycinin gene expression is regulated at both the transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels.
Harada
J J
JJ
Department of Biology, University of California, Los Angeles 90024-1606.
Barker
S J
SJ
Goldberg
R B
RB
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D001483:Base Sequence; D004247:DNA; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005916:Globulins / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family; D012323:RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D055314:Seed Storage Proteins; D017385:Sequence Homology; D030262:Soybean Proteins; D013025:Glycine max / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D052179:Antigens, Plant; D005916:Globulins; D055314:Seed Storage Proteins; D030262:Soybean Proteins; C013894:beta-conglycinin protein, Glycine max; D004247:DNA