A method for examining expression of homologous genes in plant polyploids

One of the essential issues regarding evolution of polyploid species is how duplicate genes are expressed. Most studies on gene expression in polyploids have been based on isozyme analyses; RNA analysis has not been widely used partially due to difficulties in distinguishing homologous transcripts which usually have the same length and similar or almost identical sequences. In this study, a method combining RT-PCR with RFLP was used to analyze transcripts of homologous genes in natural and synthetic Brassica amphidiploids. Sequences coding for several known genes were selected and used to synthesize gene-specific primers. Total RNAs were used as templates for RT-PCR to amplify homologous transcripts in three diploid parental species, three cultivated amphidiploid species and six synthetic amphidiploids. For each gene, initial PCR products amplified in all species had identical length; however, homologous transcripts in the diploid and amphidiploid species could be distinguished after digesting the PCR products with restriction enzymes. Preliminary results based on three genes indicated that both transcripts from the diploid parents were expressed in the synthetic and natural amphidiploids. This study represents the first application of RT-PCR and RFLP analysis to investigate expression of homologous genes in higher plants. The technique is a sensitive, simple and efficient method for distinguishing homologous transcripts in a mixed RNA population and can be applied to many types of studies on expression of homologous genes.