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Genetic control of a membrane component and zein deposition in maize endosperm

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Summary

An association is reported between an albuminlike protein (b-70) and the semidominant locus fluory-2 (fl2) which reduces the level of zein polypeptides in the maize endosperm. The protein b-70 is present at low level in wild-type endosperms and derppressed in fl2 endosperms. A correlation between the doses of the fl2 allele and the b-70 level has been found. Moreover a concomitant loss of the regulatory role of fl2 on zein level and on b-70 overproduction is evident when fl2 is genetically associated with o2 and o7, two recessive alleles of other zein regulatory loci. Protein b-70 is located on the membrane of the protein body where zein polypeptides accumulate. The existence of a functional relationship between this protein and the zein-secretory system is suggested or, as an alternative, that b-70 is a type of storage protein different from zeins, repressed in normal endosperms and derepressed by the fl2 allele.

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Abbreviations

DAP:

days after pollination

ER:

endoplasmic reticulum

RER:

rough endoplasmic reticulum

DTT:

dithiothreitol

EDTA:

ethylene-diamintetra-acetate

NADH:

nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide, reduced

PMSF:

phenylmethylsulfonyl-fluoride

SDS:

sodium dodecylsulfate

PAGE:

polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

PBS:

phosphate buffered saline (0.15 M NaCl, 0.01 M Na phosphate, pH 6.8)

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Communicated by H. Saedler

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Galante, E., Vitale, A., Manzocchi, L. et al. Genetic control of a membrane component and zein deposition in maize endosperm. Mol Gen Genet 192, 316–321 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00392168

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00392168

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