Genetics, Vol 135, 575-588, Copyright © 1993

INVESTIGATIONS

Pl-Bh, an Anthocyanin Regulatory Gene of Maize That Leads to Variegated Pigmentation

S. M. Cocciolone and K. C. Cone
Current address: 1301 Fifield Hall, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611.

Anthocyanins are purple pigments that can be produced in virtually all parts of the maize plant. The spatial distribution of anthocyanin synthesis is dictated by the organ-specific expression of a few regulatory genes that control the transcription of the structural genes. The regulatory genes are grouped into families based on functional identity and DNA sequence similarity. The C1/Pl gene family consists of C1, which controls pigmentation of the kernel, and Pl, which controls pigmentation of the vegetative and floral organs. We have determined the relationship of another gene, Blotched (Bh), to the C1 gene family. Bh was originally described as a gene that conditions blotches of pigmentation in kernels homozygous for recessive c1, suggesting that Bh could functionally replace C1 in the kernel. Our genetic and molecular analyses indicate that Bh is an allele of Pl, that we designate Pl-Bh. Pl-Bh differs from wild-type Pl alleles in two respects. In contrast to the uniform pigmentation observed in plants carrying Pl, the pattern of pigmentation in plants carrying Pl-Bh is variegated. Pl-Bh leads to variegated pigmentation in virtually all tissues of the plant, including the kernel, an organ not pigmented by other Pl alleles. To address the molecular basis for the unusual pattern of expression of Pl-Bh, we cloned and sequenced the gene. The nucleotide sequence of Pl-Bh showed only a single base-pair difference from that of Pl. However, genomic DNA sequences associated with Pl-Bh were found to be hypermethylated relative to the same sequences around the wild-type Pl allele. The methylation was inversely correlated with Pl mRNA levels in variegated plant tissues. Thus, we conclude that DNA methylation may play a role in regulating Pl-Bh expression.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				H. Yi and E. J. Richards A Cluster of Disease Resistance Genes in Arabidopsis Is Coordinately Regulated by Transcriptional Activation and RNA Silencing PLANT CELL, September 1, 2007; 19(9): 2929 - 2939. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. M. Gross and J. B. Hollick Multiple Trans-Sensing Interactions Affect Meiotically Heritable Epigenetic States at the Maize pl1 Locus Genetics, June 1, 2007; 176(2): 829 - 839. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. S. Sekhon, T. Peterson, and S. Chopra Epigenetic Modifications of Distinct Sequences of the p1 Regulatory Gene Specify Tissue-Specific Expression Patterns in Maize Genetics, March 1, 2007; 175(3): 1059 - 1070. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Kerzendorfer, J. Vignard, A. Pedrosa-Harand, T. Siwiec, S. Akimcheva, S. Jolivet, R. Sablowski, S. Armstrong, D. Schweizer, R. Mercier, et al. The Arabidopsis thaliana MND1 homologue plays a key role in meiotic homologous pairing, synapsis and recombination J. Cell Sci., June 15, 2006; 119(12): 2486 - 2496. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. V. Shakirov, Y. V. Surovtseva, N. Osbun, and D. E. Shippen The Arabidopsis Pot1 and Pot2 Proteins Function in Telomere Length Homeostasis and Chromosome End Protection Mol. Cell. Biol., September 1, 2005; 25(17): 7725 - 7733. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. B. Della Vedova, R. Lorbiecke, H. Kirsch, M. B. Schulte, K. Scheets, L. M. Borchert, B. E. Scheffler, U. Wienand, K. C. Cone, and J. A. Birchler The Dominant Inhibitory Chalcone Synthase Allele C2-Idf (Inhibitor diffuse) From Zea mays (L.) Acts via an Endogenous RNA Silencing Mechanism Genetics, August 1, 2005; 170(4): 1989 - 2002. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Peragine, M. Yoshikawa, G. Wu, H. L. Albrecht, and R. S. Poethig SGS3 and SGS2/SDE1/RDR6 are required for juvenile development and the production of trans-acting siRNAs in Arabidopsis Genes & Dev., October 1, 2004; 18(19): 2368 - 2379. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Puizina, J. Siroky, P. Mokros, D. Schweizer, and K. Riha Mre11 Deficiency in Arabidopsis Is Associated with Chromosomal Instability in Somatic Cells and Spo11-Dependent Genome Fragmentation during Meiosis PLANT CELL, August 1, 2004; 16(8): 1968 - 1978. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. V. Shakirov and D. E. Shippen Length Regulation and Dynamics of Individual Telomere Tracts in Wild-Type Arabidopsis PLANT CELL, August 1, 2004; 16(8): 1959 - 1967. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. W. Kankel, D. E. Ramsey, T. L. Stokes, S. K. Flowers, J. R. Haag, J. A. Jeddeloh, N. C. Riddle, M. L. Verbsky, and E. J. Richards Arabidopsis MET1 Cytosine Methyltransferase Mutants Genetics, March 1, 2003; 163(3): 1109 - 1122. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. L. Stokes and E. J. Richards Induced instability of two Arabidopsis constitutive pathogen-response alleles PNAS, May 28, 2002; 99(11): 7792 - 7796. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. L. Stokes, B. N. Kunkel, and E. J. Richards Epigenetic variation in Arabidopsis disease resistance Genes & Dev., January 15, 2002; 16(2): 171 - 182. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. V. Sidorenko and T. Peterson Transgene-Induced Silencing Identifies Sequences Involved in the Establishment of Paramutation of the Maize p1 Gene PLANT CELL, February 1, 2001; 13(2): 319 - 335. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				Y.-L. Xiao, X. Li, and T. Peterson Ac Insertion Site Affects the Frequency of Transposon-Induced Homologous Recombination at the Maize p1 Locus Genetics, December 1, 2000; 156(4): 2007 - 2017. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				K. Petroni, E. Cominelli, G. Consonni, G. Gusmaroli, G. Gavazzi, and C. Tonelli The Developmental Expression of the Maize Regulatory Gene Hopi Determines Germination-Dependent Anthocyanin Accumulation Genetics, May 1, 2000; 155(1): 323 - 336. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				R. Zhong, A. Ripperger, and Z.-H. Ye Ectopic Deposition of Lignin in the Pith of Stems of Two Arabidopsis Mutants Plant Physiology, May 1, 2000; 123(1): 59 - 70. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				J. B. Hollick, G. I. Patterson, I. M. Asmundsson, and V. L. Chandler Paramutation Alters Regulatory Control of the Maize pl Locus Genetics, April 1, 2000; 154(4): 1827 - 1838. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				R. Zhong, J. J. Taylor, and Z.-H. Ye Transformation of the Collateral Vascular Bundles into Amphivasal Vascular Bundles in an Arabidopsis Mutant Plant Physiology, May 1, 1999; 120(1): 53 - 64. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				D. Lisch, L. Girard, M. Donlin, and M. Freeling Functional Analysis of Deletion Derivatives of the Maize Transposon MuDR Delineates Roles for the MURA and MURB Proteins Genetics, January 1, 1999; 151(1): 331 - 341. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				R. G. Winkler, M. R. Frank, D. W. Galbraith, R. Feyereisen, and K. A. Feldmann Systematic Reverse Genetics of Transfer-DNA-Tagged Lines of Arabidopsis . Isolation of Mutations in the Cytochrome P450 Gene Superfamily Plant Physiology, November 1, 1998; 118(3): 743 - 750. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				J. B. Hollick and V. L. Chandler Epigenetic Allelic States of a Maize Transcriptional Regulatory Locus Exhibit Overdominant Gene Action Genetics, October 1, 1998; 150(2): 891 - 897. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				J. A. Jeddeloh, J. Bender, and E. J. Richards The DNA methylation locus DDM1 is required for maintenance of gene silencing in Arabidopsis Genes & Dev., June 1, 1998; 12(11): 1714 - 1725. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				E. L. Walker Paramutation of the r1 Locus of Maize Is Associated With Increased Cytosine Methylation Genetics, April 1, 1998; 148(4): 1973 - 1981. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Bergelson, E. Stahl, S. Dudek, and M. Kreitman Genetic Variation Within and Among Populations of Arabidopsis thaliana Genetics, March 1, 1998; 148(3): 1311 - 1323. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Walsh, C. A. Waters, and M. Freeling The maize gene liguleless2 encodes a basic leucine zipper protein involved in the establishment of the leaf blade-sheath boundary Genes & Dev., January 15, 1998; 12(2): 208 - 218. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]