title: Identification and characterization of alternative promoters of the rice MAP kinase gene OsBWMK1.
abstract: Our previous study suggested that OsBWMK1, a gene which encodes a member of the rice MAP kinase family, generates transcript variants which show distinct expression patterns in response to environmental stresses. The transcript variants are generated by alternative splicing and by use of alternative promoters. To test whether the two alternative promoters, pOsBWMK1L (promoter for the OsBWMK1L splice variant) and pOsBWMK1S (promoter for the OsBWMK1S splice variant), are biologically functional, we analyzed transgenic plants expressing GUS fusion constructs for each promoter. Both pOsBWMK1L and pOsBWMK1S are biologically active, although the activity of pOsBWMK1S is lower than that of pOsBWMK1L. Histochemical analysis revealed that pOsBWMK1L is constitutively active in most tissues at various developmental stages in rice and Arabidopsis, whereas pOsBWMK1S activity is spatially and temporally restricted. Furthermore, the expression of pOsBWMK1S::GUS was upregulated in response to hydrogen peroxide, a plant defense signaling molecule, in both plant species. These results suggest that the differential expression of OsBWMK1 splice variants is the result of alternative promoter usage and, moreover, that the mechanisms controlling OsBWMK1 gene expression are conserved in both monocot and dicot plants.
authors.affiliation: Division of Applied Life Science, Graduate School of Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Cheol
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Koo
authors.forename: Man Soo
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Hyun Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Chun
authors.forename: Hyeong Cheol
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Chang Ho
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Sang In
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.forename: Jong Il
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Yong Hwa
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Cheong
authors.forename: Sang Yeol
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Dae-Jin
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.forename: Woo Sik
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Moo Je
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Min Chul
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D017398:Alternative Splicing; D001483:Base Sequence; D015153:Blotting, Western; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D014644:Genetic Variation; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D012275:Oryza / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D020033:Protein Isoforms
chemical_list: D010940:Plant Proteins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; C403286:MPK12 protein, Oryza sativa; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases