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Isolation and promoter analysis of anther-specific genes encoding putative arabinogalactan proteins in Malus × domestica

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Abstract

In this study, we searched for anther-specific genes involved in male gametophyte development in apple (Malus × domestica Borkh. cv. Fuji) by differential display-PCR. Three full-length cDNAs were isolated, and the corresponding genomic sequences were determined by genome walking. The identified genes showed intronless 228- to 264-bp open reading frames and shared 82–90% nucleotide sequence. Sequence analysis identified that they encoded a putative arabinogalactan protein (AGP) and were designated MdAGP1, MdAGP2, and MdAGP3, respectively. RT (reverse transcriptase)-PCR revealed that the MdAGP genes were selectively expressed in the stamen. Promoter analysis confirmed that the MdAGP3 promoter was capable of directing anther- or pollen-specific expression of the GUS reporter in tobacco and apple. Furthermore, expression of ribosome-inactivating protein under the control of the MdAGP3 promoter induced complete sporophytic male sterility as we had expected.

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Abbreviations

AGP:

Arabinogalactan protein

GPI:

Glycosylphosphatidylinositol

ORF:

Open reading frame

RIP:

Ribosome inactivating protein

UTR:

Untranslated region

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a grant (Code 20070301034011) from BioGreen21 program, Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biotech Research Team, Dongbu Advanced Research Institute, Dongbu HiTek Co., Ltd, Daejeon, 305-708, Korea

    Yeon-Ok Choi, Sung-Soo Kim, Sanghyeob Lee, Gi-Bo Yoon, Hyojeong Kim, Young-Pyo Lee & Soon-Kee Sung

  2. Department of Plant Biotechnology, Biotechnology Research Institute, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 500-757, Korea

    Sunggil Kim

  3. Department of Plant Science and Technology, Sangmyung University, Chonan, 330-720, Korea

    Nam-In Hyung

  4. Metrology and Measurement Division, Agency for Technology and Standards, Ministry of Knowledge Economy, Gwacheon, Gyonggi-do, 427-716, Korea

    Gyung-Hee Yu

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  1. Yeon-Ok Choi
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  2. Sung-Soo Kim
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Soon-Kee Sung.

Additional information

Communicated by J. R. Liu.

Y.-O. Choi and S.-S. Kim contributed equally to this work.

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Choi, YO., Kim, SS., Lee, S. et al. Isolation and promoter analysis of anther-specific genes encoding putative arabinogalactan proteins in Malus × domestica . Plant Cell Rep 29, 15–24 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-009-0794-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-009-0794-z

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