title: A maize pectin methylesterase-like gene, ZmC5, specifically expressed in pollen.
abstract: Pectin methylesterase (PME) is responsible for the demethylation of pectin prior to pectin's degradation by the combined activities of polygalacturonase and pectate lyase. We have differentially screened a maize pollen cDNA library to detect cDNA clones whose genes are specifically expressed in pollen. One group of clones resulting from this screen showed similarity (between 18% and 41% identity) with plant and fungal PMEs. The full-length clone from this group, ZmC5, identifies a small gene family (at least 2 members) when used as a probe on genomic Southern blots. Northern analysis reveals that the ZmC5 transcript is expressed specifically in late pollen development. This tissue-specific gene expression programme is further confirmed in transgenic tobacco plants harbouring ZmC5 promoter/GUS chimeric gene constructs.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey, UK.
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Wakeley
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rozycka
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Greenland
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Hussey
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics*; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D018628:Gene Dosage; D015870:Gene Expression; D015723:Gene Library; D017343:Genes, Plant; D016678:Genome; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D010947:Plants, Toxic; D011058:Pollen / Q000201:enzymology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000235:genetics; D003313:Zea mays / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D010940:Plant Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C112600:C5 protein, Zea mays; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases; C022323:pectinesterase