Transposon tagging and molecular analysis of the maize regulatory locus opaque-2

Journal Article · Fri Nov 13 04:00:00 EST 1987 · Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1126/science.2823388· OSTI ID:7242431

Schmidt, R J; Burr, F A; Burr, B

Genetic analyses suggested that the opaque-2 (o2) locus in maize acts as a positive, transacting, transcriptional activator of the zein seed storage-protein genes. Because isolation of the gene is requisite to understanding the molecular details of this regulation, transposon mutagensis with the transposable element suppressor-mutator (Spm) was carried out, and three mutable o2 alleles were obtained. One of these alleles contained an 8.3-kilobase autonomous Spm, another a 6.8-kilobase nonautonomous Spm, and the third an unidentified transposon that is unrelated to Spm. A DNA sequence flanking the autonomous Spm insertion was verified to be o2-specific and provided a probe to clone a wild-type allele. Northern blots indicated that the gene is expressed in wild-type endosperm but not in leaf tissues or in endosperms homozygous for a mutant allele of the O2 gene. A transcript was detected in endosperms homozygous for mutations at opaque-7 and floury-2, an indication that O2 expression is independent of these two other putative regulators of zein synthesis.

• Research Organization: Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY (USA)
• OSTI ID: 7242431
• Journal Information: Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States), Journal Name: Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States) Vol. 238; ISSN SCIEA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550200* -- Biochemistry
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
CEREALS
DNA SEQUENCING
GENE REGULATION
GENES
GRASS
MAIZE
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
MUTAGENESIS
PLANTS
STRUCTURAL CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
TRANSCRIPTION