title: Expression analysis of the AtMLO gene family encoding plant-specific seven-transmembrane domain proteins.
abstract: The Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) genome contains 15 genes encoding protein homologs of the barley mildew resistance locus o (MLO) protein biochemically shown to have a seven-transmembrane domain topology and localize to the plasma membrane. Towards elucidating the functions of MLOs, the largest family of seven-transmembrane domain proteins specific to plants, we comprehensively determined AtMLO gene expression patterns by a combination of experimental and in silico studies. Experimentation comprised analyses of transgenic Arabidopsis lines bearing promoter::Beta-glucuronidase (GUS) transcriptional fusions as well as semi-quantitative determination of transcripts by reverse transcription coupled to polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). These results were combined with information extracted from public gene profiling databases, and compared to the expression patterns of genes encoding the heterotrimeric G-protein subunits. We found that each AtMLO gene has a unique expression pattern and is regulated differently by a variety of biotic and/or abiotic stimuli, suggesting that AtMLO proteins function in diverse developmental and response processes. The expression of several phylogenetically closely-related AtMLO genes showed similar or overlapping tissue specificity and analogous responsiveness to external stimuli, suggesting functional redundancy, co-function, or antagonistic function(s).
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
authors.forename: Zhongying
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: H Andreas
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Hartmann
authors.forename: Ming-Jing
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Erin J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.forename: Jin-Gui
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pulley
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schulze-Lefert
authors.forename: Ralph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Panstruga
authors.forename: Alan M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000235:genetics*; D017343:Genes, Plant / Q000235:genetics*; D020962:Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D046228:Microarray Analysis; D005810:Multigene Family / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D021122:Protein Subunits; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D020962:Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins