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A novel embryo-specific barley cDNA clone encodes a protein with homologies to bacterial glucose and ribitol dehydrogenase

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Abstract

In order to analyze the genetic programme expressed during the early stages of embryogenesis a cDNA clone bank was constructed from desiccation-tolerant excised barley embryos 18d after pollination (D. Bartels et al, 1988, Planta 175, 485–492). One of the selected cDNA clones pG31 encodes a transcript of 1300 nucleotides and a protein of 31 kDa, both are specifically expressed in developing embryos and are not detected in other tissues. The expression of the pG31 mRNA is not modulated by the plant hormone cis-abscisic acid but it ceases to be expressed in germinating embryos. The protein sequence deduced from the pG31 transcript shows substantial sequence homologies to bacterial glucose dehydrogenase and ribitol dehydrogenase. Biochemical analysis indicates that glucose dehydrogenase activity is present in protein extracts from embroys 18d after pollination. This glucose dehydrogenase activity is inhibited by antiserum raised against the recombinant pG31 protein. These findings provide evidence for the discovery of a novel pathway in carbohydrate metabolism acting specifically during embryogenesis.

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Abbreviations

ABA:

cis-abscisic acid

DAP:

days after pollination

GlcDH:

glucose dehydrogenase

LEA:

late embryogenesis abundant

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Max-Planck-Institut für Züchtungsforschung, Carl-von-Linné-Weg 10, D-50829, Köln, Germany

    Roland Alexander, Josefa M. Alamillo, Francesco Salamini & Dorothea Bartels

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  1. Roland Alexander
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  2. Josefa M. Alamillo
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  3. Francesco Salamini
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  4. Dorothea Bartels
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Additional information

We thank B. Eilts and M. Feck for excellent technical assistance and M. Pasemann for patiently typing the manuscript. J. Alamillo acknowledges the receipt of a grant from the European Economic Community in the Human Capital and Mobility Program and a Formacion de Personal Investigador-grant from Ministerio de Educacion y Ciencia (Spain).

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Alexander, R., Alamillo, J.M., Salamini, F. et al. A novel embryo-specific barley cDNA clone encodes a protein with homologies to bacterial glucose and ribitol dehydrogenase. Planta 192, 519–525 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00203590

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00203590

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