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Upstream regulatory sequences from two β-conglycinin genes

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Abstract

Genes encoding the β-conglycinin seed storage proteins of soybean are expressed only in seeds during specific stages of development. The different subunits of β-conglycinin, α′, α and β, are encoded by distinct members of a gene family. Yet there are marked differences in the regulation of the genes encoding the α′/α and β subunits. Previous work (Chen et al., EMBO J 7: 297–302, 1988) identified a seed specific transcriptional enhancer upstream of a gene encoding the α′ subunit. Mutations were made within this region to discern its functional components. Among those identified is a 62 bp region (between −77 and −140) that contains a vicilin box consensus sequence as well as a sequence that binds the soybean nuclear factor SEF4 in vitro. A second region, which contains a sequence homologous to the core of the legumin box consensus (i.e., CATGCAT-like or RY repeat element) at −246, was also shown to affect the activity of this enhancer in transgenic plants. A series of 5′ terminal deletions were used to identify regulatory elements upstream of the β subunit gene. Two regions were identified (from −553 to −442 and from −308 to −72) that, when deleted, led to a marked reduction in gene expression. Both of these elements contain sequences that bind SEF4 in vitro. The distal element also contains an AT-rich segment that recognizes a second nuclear factor, SEF1, in vitro. Neither of these elements contains any homology to the vicilin box consensus.

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Author notes

  1. Philip A. Lessard

    Present address: Monsanto Company, 700 Chesterfield Village Parkway, 63198, Chesterfield, MO, USA

  2. Randy D. Allen

    Present address: Department of Biological Sciences/Department of Agronomy, Texas Tech University, 79409, Lubbock, TX, USA

  3. Toru Fujiwara

    Present address: Laboratory of Plant Nutrition, Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, 113, Tokyo, Japan

  4. Roger N. Beachy

    Present address: Division of Plant Biology-MRC7, Department of Cell Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10666 North Torrey Pines Road, 92037, La Jolla, CA, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Washington University, 63130, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Philip A. Lessard, Randy D. Allen, Toru Fujiwara & Roger N. Beachy

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  1. Philip A. Lessard
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  2. Randy D. Allen
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  3. Toru Fujiwara
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  4. Roger N. Beachy
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Lessard, P.A., Allen, R.D., Fujiwara, T. et al. Upstream regulatory sequences from two β-conglycinin genes. Plant Mol Biol 22, 873–885 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00027372

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00027372

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