Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 13, 2026
09:31
Laser-assisted Microdissection (LAM) as a Tool for Transcriptional Profiling of Individual Cell Types
Published on: May 10, 2016
A monocot pollen-specific promoter contains separable pollen-specific and quantitative elements
D A Hamilton1, Y H Schwarz, J P Mascarenhas
1Department of Biological Sciences and Center for Molecular Genetics, University at Albany, State University of New York, 12222, USA.
Plant Molecular Biology
|September 25, 1998
Summary
Researchers identified key DNA regions in the ZM13 maize gene promoter essential for pollen-specific expression. These elements control gene activity in pollen, crucial for understanding plant reproductive biology.
Area of Science:
- Plant Molecular Biology
- Genetics
- Gene Expression Analysis
Background:
- The ZM13 gene in maize is known to be specifically expressed in pollen.
- Understanding the regulatory elements of pollen-specific promoters is vital for genetic engineering in crops.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize the specific DNA sequences within the ZM13 promoter responsible for pollen-specific gene expression.
- To elucidate the roles of different promoter regions in conferring and enhancing pollen expression.
Main Methods:
- Linker-scanning substitution mutagenesis was employed to analyze the ZM13 promoter region (-119 to -37).
- Mutated promoter constructs were tested for their ability to drive gene expression in pollen.
Main Results:
- Two critical regions were identified: a proximal region (-84 to -53) conferring pollen specificity and an upstream region (-107 to -102, the Q-element) that enhances proximal region expression.
- The Q-element alone did not induce pollen expression, and its replacement, along with the proximal region, with other sequences (including the CaMV 35S promoter) abolished activity.
Conclusions:
- The identified proximal and upstream regions are essential for ZM13 pollen-specific expression.
- These regulatory elements are crucial for controlling gene function in maize reproductive tissues.
Related Concept Videos
03:40Introduction to Seed Plants
Most plants are seed plants—characterized by seeds, pollen, and reduced gametophytes. Seed plants include gymnosperms and angiosperms.
02:19Morphogenesis
Plant morphogenesis—the development of a plant’s form and structure—involves several overlapping developmental processes, including growth and cell differentiation. Precursor cells differentiate into specific cell types, which are organized into the tissues and organ systems that make up the functional plant.
02:36RNA Polymerase II Accessory Proteins
Proteins that regulate transcription can do so either via direct contact with RNA Polymerase or through indirect interactions facilitated by adaptors, mediators, histone-modifying proteins, and nucleosome remodelers. Direct interactions to activate transcription is seen in bacteria as well as in some eukaryotic genes. In these cases, upstream activation sequences are adjacent to the promoters, and the activator proteins interact directly with the transcriptional machinery. For example, in...
02:40The Eukaryotic Promoter Region
The eukaryotic promoter region is a segment of DNA located upstream of a gene. It contains an RNA polymerase binding site, a transcription start site, and several cis-regulatory sequences. The proximal promoter region is located in the vicinity of the gene and has cis-regulatory sequences and the core promoter. The core promoter is the binding site for RNA polymerase and is usually located between -35 and +35 nucleotides from the transcription start site. The distal promoter regions are...
02:27Trihybrid Crosses
Trihybrid Crosses
Some of Mendel’s crosses examined three pairs of contrasting characteristics. Such a cross is called a trihybrid cross. A trihybrid cross is a combination of three individual monohybrid crosses. For example, plant height (tall vs. short), seed shape (round vs. wrinkled), and seed color (yellow vs. green).
The F1 generation plants of a trihybrid cross are heterozygous for all three traits and produce eight gametes. Upon self-fertilization, these gametes have an equal chance to...
Some of Mendel’s crosses examined three pairs of contrasting characteristics. Such a cross is called a trihybrid cross. A trihybrid cross is a combination of three individual monohybrid crosses. For example, plant height (tall vs. short), seed shape (round vs. wrinkled), and seed color (yellow vs. green).
The F1 generation plants of a trihybrid cross are heterozygous for all three traits and produce eight gametes. Upon self-fertilization, these gametes have an equal chance to...
02:40The Eukaryotic Promoter Region
The eukaryotic promoter region is a segment of DNA located upstream of a gene. It contains an RNA polymerase binding site, a transcription start site, and several cis-regulatory sequences. The proximal promoter region is located in the vicinity of the gene and has cis-regulatory sequences and the core promoter. The core promoter is the binding site for RNA polymerase and is usually located between -35 and +35 nucleotides from the transcription start site. The distal promoter regions are...