The rice metallothionein gene promoter does not direct foreign gene expression in seed endosperm.
We generated transgenic tobacco and rice plants harboring a chimeric gene consisting of the 5'-upstream sequence of the rice metallothionein gene (ricMT) fused to the beta-glucuronidase (GUS) gene. The activity and tissue-specific expression of the ricMT promoter were demonstrated in these transgenic plants. In the transgenic rice plants, despite substantial levels of GUS activity in the shoot and root, almost no GUS signal was detected in the endosperm. Thus, the ricMT promoter could be useful in avoiding accumulation of undesired proteins in the seed endosperm.
Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Shiraoka Research Station of Biological Science, Nissan Chemical Industries, 1470, Minamisaitama, 349-0294, Saitama, Japan.
Hiromitsu
H
Fukuzawa
Li-Hua
LH
Yu
Chikage
C
Umeda-Hara
Michito
M
Tagawa
Hirofumi
H
Uchimiya
D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000235:genetics*; D017930:Genes, Reporter / Q000235:genetics; D005966:Glucuronidase / Q000235:genetics; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012275:Oryza / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D012639:Seeds / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D019076:Transgenes / Q000235:genetics
D018076:DNA, Complementary; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D008668:Metallothionein; D005966:Glucuronidase