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The gene encoding T protein of the glycine decarboxylase complex involved in the mitochondrial step of the photorespiratory pathway in plants exhibits features of light-induced genes

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Abstract

We have isolated and characterized a genomic clone encoding the 41 kDa monomer T-protein. This gene called gdcT spans approximately 3 kbp and is composed of four exons interrupted by three introns (321, 691 and 114 bp). The splice sites for donor and acceptor are in agreement with the canonical GT/AG rule. Primer extension strongly suggests the presence of two major transcription start sites. The first transcription start site around 43 bases downstream of a putative TATA box was assigned the +1 position. The second (+31) is not correlated with a putative TATA box, but revealed a pyrimidine-rich region which is very similar to the initiator element. Sequence analysis of the 5′-upstream region of the gene reveals three consensus regions found in the nuclear genes encoding the chloroplastic proteins of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (rbcS) and the chlorophyll a/b-binding protein (cab) such as an AT-rich sequence localized at -539 to -530, a box II core sequence GGTTAA (-123 to -118) and between -364 and -354 a tandem GATA motif. These elements are known to be involved respectively in the regulation of light-responsiveness and cell-type specificity expression of plant genes. Gel shift assays indicate that the box II core sequence could bind protein nuclear factors similar to the trans-acting factor which interact with corresponding promoter region of rbcS gene.

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  1. Département de Biologie Moléculaire et Structurale PVC, CEA Grenoble, Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire Végétale, CEA, URA CNRS 576, 85X, 38054, Grenoble, France

    Pierre Vauclare, David Macherel, Roland Douce & Jacques Bourguignon

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  1. Pierre Vauclare
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  2. David Macherel
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  3. Roland Douce
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  4. Jacques Bourguignon
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Vauclare, P., Macherel, D., Douce, R. et al. The gene encoding T protein of the glycine decarboxylase complex involved in the mitochondrial step of the photorespiratory pathway in plants exhibits features of light-induced genes. Plant Mol Biol 37, 309–318 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005954200042

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