title: Expression of beta-amylase from alfalfa taproots.
abstract: Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) roots contain large quantities of beta-amylase, but little is known about its role in vivo. We studied this by isolating a beta-amylase cDNA and by examining signals that affect its expression. The beta-amylase cDNA encoded a 55.95-kD polypeptide with a deduced amino acid sequence showing high similarity to other plant beta-amylases. Starch concentrations, beta-amylase activities, and beta-amylase mRNA levels were measured in roots of alfalfa after defoliation, in suspension-cultured cells incubated in sucrose-rich or -deprived media, and in roots of cold-acclimated germ plasms. Starch levels, beta-amylase activities, and beta-amylase transcripts were reduced significantly in roots of defoliated plants and in sucrose-deprived cell cultures. beta-Amylase transcript was high in roots of intact plants but could not be detected 2 to 8 d after defoliation. beta-Amylase transcript levels increased in roots between September and October and then declined 10-fold in November and December after shoots were killed by frost. Alfalfa roots contain greater beta-amylase transcript levels compared with roots of sweetclover (Melilotus officinalis L.), red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), and birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.). Southern analysis indicated that beta-amylase is present as a multigene family in alfalfa. Our results show no clear association between beta-amylase activity or transcript abundance and starch hydrolysis in alfalfa roots. The great abundance of beta-amylase and its unexpected patterns of gene expression and protein accumulation support our current belief that this protein serves a storage function in roots of this perennial species.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-1150, USA.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Gana
authors.forename: N E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Kalengamaliro
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Volenec
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D018744:DNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D017343:Genes, Plant; D000455:Medicago sativa / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000201:enzymology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018749:RNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013213:Starch / Q000378:metabolism; D013395:Sucrose / Q000378:metabolism; D001614:beta-Amylase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D018744:DNA, Plant; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018749:RNA, Plant; D013395:Sucrose; D013213:Starch; D001614:beta-Amylase