title: Characterization and expression analysis of waxy alleles in barley accessions.
abstract: Granule Bound Starch Synthase I (GBSS I) encoded by the waxy gene plays an important role in accumulating amylose during the development of starch granules in barley. In this study, we isolated and characterized waxy alleles of three waxy (GSHO 908, GSHO 1828 and NA 40) and two non-waxy barley accessions (PI 483237 and CIho 15773), estimated the expression patterns of waxy genes via Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), investigated promoter activity by analyzing promoter-GUS expression, and examined possible effects of waxy alleles on starch granule morphology in barley accessions by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A 193-bp insertion in intron 1, a 15-bp insertion in the coding region, and some single nucleotide polymorphic sites were detected in the waxy barley accessions. In addition, a 397-bp deletion containing the TATA box, transcription starting point, exon 1 and partial intron 1 were also identified in the waxy barley accessions. RT-qPCR analysis showed that waxy accessions had lower waxy expression levels than those of non-waxy accessions. Transient expression assays showed that GUS activity driven by the 1,029-bp promoter of the non-waxy accessions was stronger than that driven by the 822-bp promoter of the waxy accessions. SEM revealed no apparent differences of starch granule morphology between waxy and non-waxy accessions. Our results showed that the 397-bp deletion identified in the waxy barley accessions is likely responsible for the reduction of waxy transcript, leading to lower concentrations of GBSS I protein thus lower amylose content.
authors.affiliation: Triticeae Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Qian-Tao
authors.initials: QT
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Quan-Zhi
authors.initials: QZ
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Shan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Xiu-Jin
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.forename: Shou-Fen
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Zhen-Xiang
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Chunji
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yu-Ming
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: You-Liang
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000688:Amylose / Q000737:chemistry; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression; D023061:Gene Order; D017343:Genes, Plant; D001467:Hordeum / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D059372:Nucleotide Motifs; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D013213:Starch / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013214:Starch Synthase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D014885:Waxes
chemical_list: D014885:Waxes; D013213:Starch; D000688:Amylose; C434607:granule-bound starch synthase I; D013214:Starch Synthase