Reference "Anaerobically regulated aldolase gene of maize. A chimaeric origin?"

Reference ID

7104

Title

Anaerobically regulated aldolase gene of maize. A chimaeric origin?

Source

Journal of molecular biology, 1988, vol. 202, pp. 759-767

Authors (5)

Dennis-E-S	Gerlach-W-L
Walker-J-C	Lavin-M
Peacock-W-J

Abstract

The sequence of the anaerobically induced fructose 1,6-bisphosphate aldolase
gene of maize is presented. Analysis of the upstream sequences of the aldolase
gene reveals a six base-pair sequence (TGGTTT) with perfect homology to one of
the sub-regions of the anaerobic regulatory element (ARE) which is responsible
for the anaerobic induction of the maize alcohol dehydrogenase 1 gene (Adh1). In
the aldolase gene this sequence is located at position -70 relative to the start
of transcription, in a small segment proven by functional analysis to be
important for expression of the aldolase gene. Since this six base-pair sequence
has been shown to be critical for anaerobic induction of the Adh1 mRNA, is in
the functional promoter region of aldolase and is also present in a homologous
position in Adh2 (another anaerobically-induced gene), we suggest this
hexanucleotide is essential for anaerobic regulation of each of these genes. The
maize aldolase gene is about 50% homologous at the amino acid level to the
animal aldolase gene but has a completely different intron/exon structure. While
the rat aldolase gene has nine introns the maize gene has a single large intron
near the N terminus of the coding region. Because there is 55% homology
downstream from the intron and very little homology upstream, we suggest that
the maize gene has acquired a 5' region containing signals for anaerobic
regulation and fortuitously adding a new N-terminal region to the protein. We
must suppose that the plant gene has lost the remaining introns.