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Molecular Cloning of the Maize R-nj Allele by Transposon Tagging with Ac

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Chromosome Structure and Function

Abstract

The R locus of maize is one of several genes that condition the red and purple anthocyanin pigments throughout the body of the plant and seed. Many alleles of the R locus have been described, each determining a different pattern of pigment distribution in the plant. Genetic studies have lead to the proposal that R is a complex locus containing several similar but functionally distinct modules that regulate anthocyanin expression in specific organs or tissues. We report on the isolation of a segment of DNA from the R locus using the controlling element Activator (Ac)as a transposon tag. Molecular evidence is presented confirming the complex organization of this regulatory locus. The identification of cross-hybridizing restriction fragments corresponding to the tissue-specific R components suggests that these elements, while functionally divergent in tissue-specificity, have retained significant DNA homology and may have evolved from a common ancesteral component at R.

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© 1988 Plenum Press, New York

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Dellaporta, S.L., Greenblatt, I., Kermicle, J.L., Hicks, J.B., Wessler, S.R. (1988). Molecular Cloning of the Maize R-nj Allele by Transposon Tagging with Ac . In: Gustafson, J.P., Appels, R. (eds) Chromosome Structure and Function. Stadler Genetics Symposia Series. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-1037-2_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-1037-2_12

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-8304-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-1037-2

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