Abstract
Pectin methylesterase (PME) is responsible for the demethylation of pectin prior to pectin's degradation by the combined activities of polygalacturonase and pectate lyase. We have differentially screened a maize pollen cDNA library to detect cDNA clones whose genes are specifically expressed in pollen. One group of clones resulting from this screen showed similarity (between 18% and 41% identity) with plant and fungal PMEs. The full-length clone from this group, ZmC5, identifies a small gene family (at least 2 members) when used as a probe on genomic Southern blots. Northern analysis reveals that the ZmC5 transcript is expressed specifically in late pollen development. This tissue-specific gene expression programme is further confirmed in transgenic tobacco plants harbouring ZmC5 promoter/GUS chimeric gene constructs.
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Wakeley, P., Rogers, H., Rozycka, M. et al. A maize pectin methylesterase-like gene, ZmC5, specifically expressed in pollen. Plant Mol Biol 37, 187–192 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005954621558
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005954621558