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Maize transposable element Ds is differentially spliced from primary transcripts in endosperm and suspension cells.
1Program in Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology and Horticultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32611-0690, USA.
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
|August 12, 1999
Summary
Transposable elements like Ds are spliced from maize gene transcripts. Splicing patterns differ between endosperm and suspension cells, indicating context or tissue-specific regulation.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Plant Genetics
- Gene Regulation
Background:
- Transposable elements (TEs) are mobile genetic sequences. Their excision from host gene transcripts via splicing is a poorly understood regulatory mechanism.
- Previous work showed perfect splicing of the maize Ds element and flanking Sh2 sequence in endosperm tissue.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the splicing patterns of the maize Ds transposable element and its flanking Sh2 sequence.
- To compare Ds splicing in transiently expressed maize suspension cells with previously observed endosperm splicing.
Main Methods:
- Transient expression of Ds and Sh2 constructs in maize suspension cells.
- Analysis of spliced transcripts to identify splice sites and patterns.
Main Results:
- Ds splicing in suspension cells differed significantly from endosperm splicing.
- Complete splicing of the Ds element occurred using external splice sites in suspension cells.
- Noncanonical splice sites were utilized in suspension cells for Ds splicing.
Conclusions:
- The context of Ds element insertion within a construct influences its splicing.
- Tissue-specific differences in maize splicing machinery contribute to varied Ds excision patterns.