Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Investigating Interactions Between Histone Modifying Enzymes and Transcription Factors in vivo by Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer
Published on: October 14, 2022
Function and expression pattern of the alpha subunit of the heterotrimeric G protein in rice
Yuki Izawa1, Yoshiyuki Takayanagi, Noriko Inaba
1Department of Bioscience, Fukui Prefectural University, 4-1-1 Matsuoka Kenjyojima, Eiheiji-cho, Yoshida-gun, Fukui, 910-1195 Japan.
Abstract:
The d1 mutant, which is deficient for the heterotrimeric G-protein alpha subunit (Galpha) gene of rice, shows dwarfism and sets small round seeds. To determine whether dwarfism in d1 is due to a reduction in cell number or to shortened cell length, the cell number of the leaf sheath, the internode, the root and the lemma was compared between Nipponbare, a wild-type rice and d1-5, a d1 allele derived from Nipponbare. Our results indicate that the cell number was reduced in all organs analyzed in d1-5. In addition, cell enlargement was found in roots and lemma of d1-5, although the organ length in d1-5 was shorter than that of wild-type rice. These results suggest that rice Galpha participates in cell proliferation in rice. Western blot analyses using anti-Galpha antibody and RT-PCR analyses indicate that Galpha is mostly expressed in the developing organs. Galpha promoter activity studies using the GUS reporter gene confirmed that the expression of Galpha was highest in developing organs. We conclude that rice Galpha participates in the regulation of cell number in a developmental stage-dependent manner.
Related Concept Videos
Activation and Inactivation of G Proteins
G-protein Coupled Receptors
G-protein Coupled Receptors
Small GTPases - Ras and Rho
Three regulatory proteins control their activity:
Cell Signaling in Plants
G Protein-coupled Receptors
GPCRs are also called heptahelical, 7TM, or serpentine receptors, and consist of seven (H1-H7) transmembrane alpha-helices that span the bilayer to form a cylindrical core. The transmembrane helices are connected by three extracellular loops and three...

