Summary
Flavonoid biosynthetic enzymes are known to be coordinately induced in several plants. Evidence is presented here for the existence of regulatory genes in maize that govern the joint expression of unlinked structural genes specifying two flavonoid biosynthetic enzymes in the aleurone layer of the seed. UDPglucose 3-O-glucosyltransferase (UFGT) is specified by the Bz locus in chromosome 9, whereas chalcone synthase (CHS) seems to be encoded by the C2 locus in chromosome 4. Mutations at these respective loci cause the elimination of either UFGT or CHS, exclusively. Mutations at several other loci (C, R, Vp, Clf) affect both enzymes simultaneously. A functional allele at each of the latter loci is required for the coordinate expression of CHS, UFGT, and in all likelihood, other flavonoid biosynthetic enzymes.
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Dooner, H.K. Coordinate genetic regulation of flavonoid biosynthetic enzymes in maize. Molec Gen Genet 189, 136–141 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00326066
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00326066