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Molecular cloning of an arabidopsis homologue of GCN2, a protein kinase involved in co-ordinated response to amino acid starvation

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Abstract

DNA homologous to the yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) protein kinase gene, GCN2, was amplified from arabidopsis [Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh.] RNA and given the name AtGCN2. The AtGCN2 peptide sequence included adjacent protein kinase and histidyl tRNA synthetase-like domains and showed 45% sequence identity with the GCN2 peptide sequence in the protein kinase domain. AtGCN2 transcripts were detectable in RNA from roots, leaves, stems, buds, flowers, siliques and seedlings. GCN2 is required for yeast cells to respond to amino acid starvation. Expression of AtGCN2 in yeast gcn2 mutants complemented the mutation, enabling growth in the presence of sulfometuron methyl, an inhibitor of branched-chain amino acid biosynthesis, and 3-aminotriazole, an inhibitor of histidine biosynthesis.

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Abbreviations

3-AT:

3-aminotriazole

eIF2α:

α subunit of eukaryotic translation initiation factor-2

RACE:

rapid amplification of cDNA ends

SM:

sulfometuron methyl

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Acknowledgement

Rothamsted receives grant-aided support from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council of the United Kingdom.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Crop Performance and Improvement, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 2JQ, UK

    Yuhua Zhang, Matthew J. Paul & Nigel G. Halford

  2. Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3TL, UK

    J. Richard Dickinson

Authors
  1. Yuhua Zhang
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  2. J. Richard Dickinson
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  3. Matthew J. Paul
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  4. Nigel G. Halford
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nigel G. Halford.

Additional information

The nucleotide sequence of AtGCN2 has been deposited in the EMBL database under accession number AJ459823

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Zhang, Y., Dickinson, J.R., Paul, M.J. et al. Molecular cloning of an arabidopsis homologue of GCN2, a protein kinase involved in co-ordinated response to amino acid starvation. Planta 217, 668–675 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-003-1025-4

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