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Cloning and characterization of the granule-bound starch synthase II gene in rice: gene expression is regulated by the nitrogen level, sugar and circadian rhythm

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Abstract

A full-length coding domain sequence of a gene analogous to granule-bound starch synthase (GBSS; ADP-glucose-starch glucosyltransferase, EC 2.4.1.21) was cloned and defined as OsGBSSII based on a Nitrogen (N)-starvation-induced cDNA library constructed using the rapid subtraction hybridization method. The deduced amino acid sequence of OsGBSSII was 62–85% identical to those of GBSS proteins from other plant species. The exon/intron organization of OsGBSSII was similar to that of OsGBSSI. OsGBSSII was mainly expressed in leaves and its protein was exclusively bound to starch granules in rice leaves, which suggests that the amylose in rice leaves is synthesized by OsGBSSII. N-starvation-induced expression of OsGBSSII could be repressed by supplying nitrate, ammonia or amino acid (glutamic acid or glutamine), glucosamine (an inhibitor of hexokinase) or dark conditions. These results indicate that N-starvation induction was dependent on the photosynthetic product and hexokinase in rice leaves. Sugars induced the accumulation of OsGBSSII transcripts in excised leaves through glycolysis-dependent pathways. OsGBSSII gene expression is regulated by the circadian rhythm in rice leaves.

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Abbreviations

AGPase:

ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase

BE:

branching enzyme

C:

Carbon

GBSS:

granule-bound starch synthase

Glc:

glucose

Gln:

glutamine

Glu:

glutamic acid

HXK:

hexokinase

N:

Nitrogen

RaSH:

Rapid Subtraction Hybridization

Suc:

sucrose

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China (39830250), and the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province, China (ZA0106).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, 310029, Hangzhou, China

    Weimin Dian, Huawu Jiang, Qingshuang Chen, Feiyang Liu & Ping Wu

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  1. Weimin Dian
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  2. Huawu Jiang
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  3. Qingshuang Chen
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  4. Feiyang Liu
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Correspondence to Ping Wu.

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Dian, W., Jiang, H., Chen, Q. et al. Cloning and characterization of the granule-bound starch synthase II gene in rice: gene expression is regulated by the nitrogen level, sugar and circadian rhythm. Planta 218, 261–268 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-003-1101-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-003-1101-9

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