Utilization of transposable elementmPingas a novel genetic tool for modification of the stress response in rice.
Transposable elements (TEs) are DNA fragments that have the ability to move from one chromosomal location to another. The insertion of TEs into gene-rich regions often affects changes in the expression of neighboring genes. MiniaturePing(mPing) is an active miniature inverted-repeat TE discovered in the rice genome. It has been found to show exceptionally active transposition in a fewjaponicarice varieties, including Gimbozu, wheremPinginsertion rendered adjacent genes stress-inducible. In the Gimbozu population, it is highly possible that several genes with modified expression profiles are segregating due to the de novomPinginsertions. In our study, we utilized a screening system for detecting de novomPinginsertions in the upstream region of target genes and evaluated the effect ofmPingon the stress response of the target genes. Screening for 17 targeted genes revealed five genes with themPinginsertion in their promoters. In most cases, the alteration of gene expression was observed under stress conditions, and there was no change in the expression levels of those five genes under normal conditions. These results indicate that themPinginsertion can be used as a genetic tool to modify an expression pattern of a target gene under stress conditions without changing the expression profiles of those under natural conditions.
Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8502 Japan.
Kanako
K
Yasuda
Makoto
M
Ito
Tomohiko
T
Sugita
Takuji
T
Tsukiyama
Hiroki
H
Saito
Ken
K
Naito
Masayoshi
M
Teraishi
Takatoshi
T
Tanisaka
Yutaka
Y
Okumoto
Gene expression; Reverse genetics; Rice; Transposable element; Transposition; mPing