title: Conserved RY-repeats mediate transactivation of seed-specific promoters by the developmental regulator PvALF.
abstract: Transcription of genes DLEC2 and PHSbeta is specifically and coordinately regulated during maturation of Phaseolus embryos. Over-expression of the seed- specific factor PvALF in cotyledon cells results in transactivation of either promoter. PvALF is related to the VP1 protein of maize, which transactivates gene expression via G-boxes, Sph elements and AT-rich sequences. We used deletions and base substitutions in the DLEC2 and PHSbeta promoters to demonstrate that several conserved RY-repeats were necessary for PvALF induction of both genes. A comprehensive mutational and transactivation analysis was used to define functionally the sequence of the DLEC2 repeat RY3 asG/CCATGCxxG/C. We also found that an interaction between RY3 and the 3'-flanking tetranucleotide CCAC increased PvALF transactivation. A preferred spacing and phasing requirement for the RY3 and CCAC motifs suggested the possibility of interactions between cellular factors that recognize either element. The high conservation of Sph-RY motifs in seed-specific promoters from monocots and dicots indicates that organ and temporal specification by factors similar to VP1 and PvALF is common among seed plants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland Baltimore County, 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Bobb
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Chern
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Bustos
mesh_terms: D007887:Fabaceae; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000235:genetics*; D037121:Plant Lectins; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics*; D015533:Transcriptional Activation
chemical_list: D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D037121:Plant Lectins; D010940:Plant Proteins; C096083:PvAlf protein, Phaseolus vulgaris; D015534:Trans-Activators; C048826:phaseolin protein, Phaseolus vulgaris