Transposon Insertions in the Promoter of the Zea mays a1 Gene Differentially Affect Transcription by the Myb Factors P and C1

Corresponding author: Erich Grotewold, Plant Biotechnology Center, The Ohio State University, 206 Rightmire Hall, 1060 Carmack Rd., Columbus, OH 43210., grotewold.1{at}osu.edu (E-mail)

Communicating editor: V. SUNDARESAN

The understanding of control of gene regulation in higher eukaryotes relies heavily on results derived from non-in vivo studies, but rarely can the significance of these approximations be established in vivo. Here, we investigated the effect of Mutator and Spm insertions on the expression of the flavonoid biosynthetic gene a1, independently regulated by the transcription factors C1 and P. The a1-mum2 and a1-m2 alleles carry Mu1 and Spm insertions, respectively, in a cis-element (ARE) of unknown function located between the P- and C1-binding sites. We show that the insertions of Mu1 and Spm similarly influence the expression of a1 controlled by C1 or P. The P-controlled a1 expression in a1-m2 is Spm dependent, and the mutant phenotype of a1-mum2 is suppressed in the pericarp in the absence of the autonomous MuDR element. Footprints within the ARE affect the regulation of a1 by C1 and P differently, providing evidence that these factors control a1 expression using distinct cis-acting regulatory elements. Together, our findings contribute significantly to one of the best-described plant regulatory systems, while stressing the need to complement with in vivo experiments current approaches used for the study of control of gene expression.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				X. Huang, G. Lu, Q. Zhao, X. Liu, and B. Han Genome-Wide Analysis of Transposon Insertion Polymorphisms Reveals Intraspecific Variation in Cultivated Rice Plant Physiology, September 1, 2008; 148(1): 25 - 40. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Feller, J. M. Hernandez, and E. Grotewold An ACT-like Domain Participates in the Dimerization of Several Plant Basic-helix-loop-helix Transcription Factors J. Biol. Chem., September 29, 2006; 281(39): 28964 - 28974. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. D. Yandeau-Nelson, Y. Xia, J. Li, M. G. Neuffer, and P. S. Schnable Unequal Sister Chromatid and Homolog Recombination at a Tandem Duplication of the a1 Locus in Maize Genetics, August 1, 2006; 173(4): 2211 - 2226. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. M. Hernandez, G. F. Heine, N. G. Irani, A. Feller, M.-G. Kim, T. Matulnik, V. L. Chandler, and E. Grotewold Different Mechanisms Participate in the R-dependent Activity of the R2R3 MYB Transcription Factor C1 J. Biol. Chem., November 12, 2004; 279(46): 48205 - 48213. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Elomaa, A. Uimari, M. Mehto, V. A. Albert, R. A.E. Laitinen, and T. H. Teeri Activation of Anthocyanin Biosynthesis in Gerbera hybrida (Asteraceae) Suggests Conserved Protein-Protein and Protein-Promoter Interactions between the Anciently Diverged Monocots and Eudicots Plant Physiology, December 1, 2003; 133(4): 1831 - 1842. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				I. Debeaujon, N. Nesi, P. Perez, M. Devic, O. Grandjean, M. Caboche, and L. Lepiniec Proanthocyanidin-Accumulating Cells in Arabidopsis Testa: Regulation of Differentiation and Role in Seed Development PLANT CELL, November 1, 2003; 15(11): 2514 - 2531. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]