Reference "Comparison of non-mutant and mutant waxy genes in rice and maize"

Reference ID

3293

Title

Comparison of non-mutant and mutant waxy genes in rice and maize

Source

Genetics, 1988, vol. 120, pp. 1137-1143

Authors (2)

Okagaki-R-J

Wessler-S-R

Abstract

The waxy gene, which is responsible for the synthesis of amylose in endosperm
and pollen, is genetically well characterized in many grasses including maize
and rice. Homology between the previously cloned maize waxy gene and the rice
gene has facilitated our cloning of a 15-kb HindIII fragment that contains the
entire rice gene. A comparison of the restriction maps of the maize and rice
genes indicates that many restriction sites within translated exons are
conserved. In addition, the rice gene encodes a 2.4-kb transcript that programs
the in vitro synthesis of a 64-kD pre-protein which is efficiently precipitated
with maize waxy antisera. We demonstrate that these gene products are altered in
rice strains containing mutant waxy genes. Southern blot analysis of 16 rice
strains, ten containing waxy mutations, reveals that the waxy gene and flanking
restriction fragments are virtually identical. These results contrast
dramatically with the high level of insertions and deletions associated with
restriction fragment length polymorphism and spontaneous mutations among the
waxy alleles of maize.