title: The regulatory function of the upstream sequence of the beta-conglycinin alpha subunit gene in seed-specific transcription is associated with the presence of the RY sequence.
abstract: beta-conglycinin, a major component of seed-storage proteins in soybean, comprises three subunits: alpha, alpha', and beta. Expression of these genes is spatially regulated in a stringent manner and occurs during seed development. To understand the mechanisms that control expression of the alpha subunit gene, we analyzed the nucleotide sequence of the 2.9-kb region upstream of the gene. The upstream sequence up to -1357 or a series of its 5'-deleted derivatives was fused to the beta-glucuronidase (GUS) gene. These reporter gene constructs were introduced into Arabidopsis thaliana plants via Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer. Prominent GUS activity was detected in developing seeds of the T3 generation when 245 bp or longer sequences of the upstream region were fused to the GUS gene. We found a clear association of decreased GUS activity with a stepwise deletion of a region containing the RY sequence from the original construct. These results are consistent with the notion that multiple sequence elements including the RY sequences are involved in the seed-specific transcriptional activation of the beta-conglycinin alpha subunit gene in soybean.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
authors.forename: Michiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoshino
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nagamatsu
authors.forename: Ken-ichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsutsumi
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kanazawa
mesh_terms: D052179:Antigens, Plant; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D001483:Base Sequence; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000378:metabolism; D005916:Globulins / Q000235:genetics*; D005966:Glucuronidase / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000502:physiology*; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000235:genetics; D050436:Regulatory Elements, Transcriptional / Q000502:physiology*; D012231:Rhizobium / Q000378:metabolism; D055314:Seed Storage Proteins; D012639:Seeds / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D030262:Soybean Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D014161:Transduction, Genetic
chemical_list: D052179:Antigens, Plant; D005916:Globulins; D021122:Protein Subunits; D055314:Seed Storage Proteins; D030262:Soybean Proteins; C013894:beta-conglycinin protein, Glycine max; D005966:Glucuronidase