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Characterization of the regulatory elements of the maize P-rr gene by transient expression assays

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Abstract

The maize P-rr gene conditions floral-specific flavonoid pigmentation, especially in the kernel pericarp and cob. We analyzed the P-rr promoter by transient expression assays, in which segments of the P-rr promoter were fused to the GUS reporter gene and introduced into maize cells by particle bombardment. A basal P-rr promoter fragment (−235 to +326) gave low, but significant, levels of GUS reporter gene expression. Interestingly, two widely spaced segments containing enhancer-like activity were found. When tested individually, both the proximal (−1252 to −236) and distal (−6110 to −4842) segments boosted expression of the basal P-rr promoter::GUS construct about five-fold. A 1.6 kb segment of the P-rr promoter (−1252 to +326) containing the proximal enhancer and the 5′-untranslated leader driving the GUS reporter gene showed preferential expression in BMS and embryogenic suspension cell cultures vs. endosperm-derived suspension cell cultures. These results demonstrate the application of transient assay techniques for the identification of regulatory elements responsible for floral-specific regulation of the complex P-rr gene promoter in maize.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology and Genetics, and Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA

    Lyudmila Sidorenko, Xianggan Li & Thomas Peterson

  2. Pioneer Hi-Bred International., Inc., Johnston, IA, 500131-0038, USA

    Laura Tagliani & Ben Bowen

Authors
  1. Lyudmila Sidorenko
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  2. Xianggan Li
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  3. Laura Tagliani
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  4. Ben Bowen
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  5. Thomas Peterson
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Sidorenko, L., Li, X., Tagliani, L. et al. Characterization of the regulatory elements of the maize P-rr gene by transient expression assays. Plant Mol Biol 39, 11–19 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006172815663

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