Rapid and transient induction of calmodulin-encoding gene(s) of Brassica napus by a touch stimulus

A cDNA clone for a calmodulin gene (bcm1) was isolated from Brassica napus. The clone encodes a peptide identical to the calmodulins encoded by the Arabidopsis ACaM-2, -3 and -5 cDNA clones and shows 92% nucleotide sequence identity to the ACaM-3 clone. Northern blot analysis shows that a single band of transcript is detected in all organs examined and most abundantly in the root with the 3' untranslated sequence probe. In addition, the transcript level increases rapidly (within 30 min) after wound or touch stimulation and starts to decline in 3 hr, suggesting that calmodulin may be involved in the responses to these stimuli in Brassica napus. The gene is a member of a multigene family in Brassica napus.