title: Rice transgenic plants with suppressed expression of the β subunit of the heterotrimeric G protein.
abstract: The deficient mutant for the rice heterotrimeric G protein α subunit gene (RGA1), d1, showed dwarfism and set small seed due to a reduced cell number. Mutants for the rice heterotrimeric G protein β subunit gene (RGB1) have not been isolated. To determine the functions of RGB1, transgenic rice plants with suppressed expression of RGB1 were studied using the RNAi method. RGB1 knock-down lines showed browning of the lamina joint regions and nodes and reduced fertility, but these abnormality were not observed in d1. Transgenic plants in which the G protein β subunit was greatly decreased were not obtained, suggesting that the complete suppression of RGB1 mRNA may be lethal. In contrast, the d1 mutants, with complete loss of the G protein α subunit, were fertile and half the size of the WT. These studies suggest that RGB1 has different functions than RGA1.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioscience, Fukui Prefectural University, Yoshida-gun, Fukui, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuzuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Utsunomiya
authors.forename: Chihiro
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Samejima
authors.forename: Yukiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fujisawa
authors.forename: Hisaharu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Yukimoto
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Iwasaki
mesh_terms: D044387:GTP-Binding Protein beta Subunits / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D020868:Gene Silencing; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D012275:Oryza / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000235:genetics*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D044387:GTP-Binding Protein beta Subunits; D010940:Plant Proteins; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering