Reference "Comparison of Waxy gene regulation in the endosperm and pollen in Oryza sativa L"

Reference ID

1431

Title

Comparison of Waxy gene regulation in the endosperm and pollen in Oryza sativa L

Source

Genes & genetic systems, 2000, vol. 75, pp. 245-249

Authors (2)

Hirano-H-Y

Sano-Y

Abstract

The Waxy (Wx) gene controls amylose synthesis in rice (Oryza sativa) and its
expression is regulated organ-specifically. The Wx gene is expressed in the
endosperm and pollen but not in other organs. In order to know whether Wx gene
regulation is the same in the endosperm and pollen, we compared expression
patterns of the rice Wx gene in these two organs by immunoblot analysis. We
focused on the allelic differences (Wxa and Wxb), cool temperature response and
effects of the mutation at the du loci. The results obtained are as follows.
First, the quantitative regulation depending on two alleles, Wxa and Wxb, was
common to both organs; Wx protein levels from the Wxa allele were about 10-fold
higher than those from the Wxb allele in the pollen as well as in the endosperm.
Second, in both the endosperm and pollen, expression of the Wxb gene, but not
the Wxa gene, was enhanced in response to cool temperature. In contrast to these
two types of regulation, analysis of two du mutants, 2035 (du1) and 76-3 (du2),
revealed that the pattern of reduction in Wx protein levels in the pollen was
distinct from that in the endosperm, suggesting that functions of the two du+
genes differ in these two organs.