Hamburg, Germany
University of Hamburg
Identification of genes induced during
early kernel development in Zea mays (L.)
--Lorbiecke, R, Kukula, J, Paul, C,
Wienand, U
The identification of seed specific genes
from maize endosperm is currently of growing interest to provide more efficient
approaches for plant improvement. To get more insight into the regulation
of endosperm and kernel development we performed a PCR-based subtractive
hybridization based on the method described by Buchanan-Wollaston and Ainsworth
(Plant Mol. Biol. 33:821-834, 1997). cDNAs for driver and target populations
were synthesized using mRNAs from kernels 0 and 8 days after pollination.
The enriched cDNA fragments were cloned and further screened for differentially
regulated genes by dot blot hybridization using driver and target cDNAs
as probes. Based on this screening we estimated that about 30-40% of the
subtraction-enriched cDNAs represent differentially regulated genes. So
far, all cDNA fragments cloned are different in sequence.
Northern analysis confirmed an induced,
transient expression pattern of the genes analyzed, showing the efficiency
of the subtraction and screening procedure. In addition, most of the isolated
genes showed strongest expression in developing kernels and weak or no
expression in other tissues analyzed, i.e. tassels, silks, leaves or young
plants. Database searching led to the identification of new genes involved
in lipid metabolism and pathogen response as well as genes already known
to be endosperm specific, i.e. BETL2 Hueros et. al (1999).
Please Note: Notes submitted to the Maize Genetics Cooperation Newsletter may be cited only with consent of the authors.
Return to the MNL 75 On-Line Index
Return to the Maize Newsletter Index
Return to the MaizeGDB Homepage