The novel ethylene-regulated gene OsUsp1 from rice encodes a member of a plant protein family related to prokaryotic universal stress proteins.
Using subtractive hybridization a submergence-induced gene was identified from deepwater rice, OsUsp1, that encodes a homologue of the bacterial universal stress protein family. Sequence analysis revealed that OsUSP1 is most closely related to the bacterial MJ0577-type of ATP-binding USP proteins which have been suggested to act as a molecular switch. USP protein homologues appear to be ubiquitous in plants and are encoded by gene families, but are absent in animal species. In the youngest internode of deepwater rice plants, OsUsp1 expression was very strongly induced within 1 h of submergence. Elevated transcript levels were observed in dividing cells, in expanding cells and in differentiated tissue indicating that USP1 mediates a general process. Gene induction was shown to be regulated by ethylene with a highly similar expression pattern to that observed with submergence treatment. Based on sequence information and on expression data it is hypothesized that OsUSP1 plays a role in ethylene-mediated stress adaptation in rice.
Sauter
Margret
M
Institut für Allgemeine Botanik, Universität Hamburg, Ohnhorststrasse 18, D-22609 Hamburg, Germany. msauter@botanik.uni-hamburg.de
Rzewuski
Guillaume
G
Marwedel
Tanja
T
Lorbiecke
René
R
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D005030:Ethylenes / Q000378:metabolism*; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012275:Oryza / Q000235:genetics*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D015533:Transcriptional Activation
D018076:DNA, Complementary; D005030:Ethylenes; D010940:Plant Proteins; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; C036216:ethylene