Isolation and sequence of a gene encoding a methionine-rich 10-kDa zein protein from maize.
We have isolated the gene encoding a methionine-rich 10-kDa zein protein from a lambda EMBL3 maize genomic 'mini' library of the inbred line BSSS-53 and determined its nucleotide sequence. The sequence matches perfectly with a cDNA clone from the inbred line W22 (which has the same restriction fragment length polymorphism as many inbred lines tested) indicating that we have isolated a functional storage protein gene that is very conserved in maize. This comparison also excludes any splicing of any precursor mRNA and therefore any presence of introns. A number of potential regulatory sequences have been located in the flanking regions. The 10-kDa-zein gene represents the last size class in the zein multigene family to be characterized. Its structure allows us now to re-examine the relationship of all the zein proteins and also to compare the structure of a new class of storage proteins that are rich in methionine, an essential amino acid in livestock fodder.
Kirihara
J A
JA
Waksman Institute, Rutgers, State University of New Jersey, Piscataway 08855.
Petri
J B
JB
Messing
J
J
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004247:DNA / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005796:Genes; D008715:Methionine / Q000032:analysis*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D008970:Molecular Weight; D003313:Zea mays / Q000235:genetics*; D015028:Zein / Q000235:genetics*
D004247:DNA; D015028:Zein; D008715:Methionine