Abstract
The Oct motif (CGCGGATC) is highly conserved in plant histone gene promoters. Three types of Oct-containing composite elements have been identified: type I element composed of Hex and reverse-oriented Oct (CCACGTCAN CGATCCGCG), type II element with a 3-bp extension of conservation (TCACGCGGATC), and type III element with a CCAAT-containing sequence (CCAAT-box) as the other module (GATCCGCG-(N)14-ACCAATCA). Gain-of-function experiments with transgenic tobacco cell lines showed that each of the three types of Oct-containing elements can confer the ability to direct S phase-specific expression on a heterologous promoter. In transgenic plants, the type I and III elements activated transcription in tissues with high meristematic activity, whereas the activity of the type II element was only detected in young guard cells. For both S phase-specific and tissue-specific expression, the cooperation of Oct and the other module (Hex, TCA, or CCAAT-box) was absolutely required. Thus, Oct plays a pivotal role in regulation of the expression of plant histone genes.
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Meshi, T., Taoka, Ki. & Iwabuchi, M. S phase-specific expression of plant histone genes. J. Plant Res. 111, 247–251 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02512178
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02512178