Molecular characterization of mature pollen-specific genes encoding novel small cysteine-rich proteins in rice (Oryza sativa L.).
In our previous cDNA microarray analysis, we identified 53 mature anther-specific genes, whose function was unknown, in rice. We reanalyzed these genes from the viewpoint of the specific amino acid motif. Out of 53 genes, three genes, Os-26, Os-32, and Os-169 (renamed as OsSCP1, OsSCP2, and OsSCP3), encoded cysteine-rich motif (Cys-X3-Cys-X13-Cys-X3-Cys), indicating that they were novel small cysteine-rich proteins. From the search of specific elements in promoter regions, several pollen-specific elements were found. In order to determine whether three promoters were functional in pollen or not, the gene constructs with promoter regions fused to the beta-glucuronidase gene were transformed into tobacco. Histochemical analysis showed that these promoters were active in the mature pollen grains and pollen tubes. Furthermore, OsSCP1 and OsSCP3 formed a multigene family tandemly in the rice genome. From the results, OsSCPs might have important roles in mature pollen development and pollen tube growth.
Park
Jong-In
JI
Faculty of Agriculture, Iwate University, Morioka 020-8550, Japan.
Hakozaki
Hirokazu
H
Endo
Makoto
M
Takada
Yoshinobu
Y
Ito
Hitoshi
H
Uchida
Masanori
M
Okabe
Tomihiro
T
Watanabe
Masao
M
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D003545:Cysteine / Q000235:genetics*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D018745:Genome, Plant; D005966:Glucuronidase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family; D012275:Oryza / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011058:Pollen / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D010940:Plant Proteins; D005966:Glucuronidase; D003545:Cysteine