Limited expression of a diverged beta-tubulin gene during soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) development

We examined the developmental expression of a diverged soybean beta-tubulin gene (designated sb-1), which had been cloned and sequenced previously. A probe specific for the sb-1 gene was constructed from the 3' transcribed untranslated sequence. As a control, a more general probe for beta-tubulin genes and their transcripts was constructed from a highly conserved region of the third exon of another soybean beta-tubulin gene, sb-2. Poly(A)+ RNA, extracted from various soybean tissues and organs, was probed alternatively with the sb-1 gene-specific probe and with the generic beta-tubulin probe. Levels of beta-tubulin transcripts recognized by the generic probe differed by a factor of approximately 3 in the different tissues and organs and varied with the state of organ development. Highest levels were found in young, unexpanded leaves and they decreased as leaf maturation occurred. In contrast, transcripts of sb-1 were nearly undetectable in young leaves, and they increased as leaf maturation occurred. Levels of sb-1 transcript were low in all organs of the light-grown plant examined, except the hypocotyl, where they were approximately 10-fold higher. However, the highest levels of sb-1 transcripts were observed in elongating hypocotyls of etiolated seedlings. Exposure of six-day-old etiolated seedlings to light for 12 hours halted further hypocotyl elongation and brought about a dramatic, nearly 100-fold, decrease in the steady-state level of sb-1 transcripts.