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Functional analysis of retrotransposons in pea.
H Kato1, P Sriprasertsak, H Seki
1Laboratory of Plant Pathology and Genetic Engineering, College of Agriculture, Okayama University, Tsushima, Japan.
Plant & Cell Physiology
|December 10, 1999
Summary
Plant defense genes in pea contain retrotransposon sequences. These copia-type elements, specifically subgroup PsrC, are induced by fungal elicitors, suggesting a role in plant defense gene regulation.
Area of Science:
- Plant molecular biology
- Genetics
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Plant active defense genes, such as PSPAL2 and PSCHS1 in pea, share sequence identity with copia-type retrotransposons in their 5'-upstream regions.
- Retrotransposons are mobile genetic elements that can influence host gene expression and genome structure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the copia-type retrotransposons in pea.
- To investigate the differential induction of retrotransposon subgroups in response to environmental stimuli.
Main Methods:
- Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of putative reverse transcriptase sequences (Psr) from pea cDNA.
- Nucleotide sequence analysis to classify Psr genes into subgroups (A-H).
- Treatment of etiolated pea epicotyls with fungal elicitor and protoplasting of pea suspension cultured cells to assess Psr gene induction.
Main Results:
- Pea Psr genes were classified into at least eight subgroups based on sequence similarity.
- PsrC subgroup was rapidly induced by fungal elicitor but not by protoplasting.
- PsrA and PsrB subgroups were highly induced by protoplasting.
- The retrotransposon sequence upstream of the defense gene PSCHS1 belonged to the PsrC subgroup and was induced by fungal elicitor.
Conclusions:
- Retrotransposons, particularly the PsrC subgroup, may play a significant role in the regulation of plant defense genes in response to phytopathogen attacks.
- These retroelements might contribute to gene reorganization and optimized gene expression in plants facing environmental challenges.