The G box is a well-characterized cis-acting

SummaryG-box cis-acting DNA sequence elements are present in the promoter region of a number of signal-inducible plant genes. In many cases this motif is essential for gene expression. Maize nuclear extracts contain a protein complex that binds specifically to the G-box sequence. Previously, a protein called GF14 was described that is physically associated with the G-box binding complex, but is not a DNA-binding factor in and of itself. This paper reports the isolation of a cDNA encoding a maize G-box binding factor (GBF). The deduced amino acid sequence indicates that maize GBF1 is a basic region-leucine zipper protein. GBF1 binds to the G-box element with specificity similar to that of the binding activity in nuclear extracts. Furthermore, maize GBF1 and the factor detected in nuclear extract are identical in their molecular weight and are immunologicelly related. GBF1 mRNA accumulates rapidly in hypoxicelly induced maize cells prior to the increase in Adhl mRNA levels. Taken together with results that indicate that GBF1 binds to the hypoxia-responsive promoter of maize Adh 1, these observations suggest that GBF1 may be one of the factors involved in the activation of Adh l.

The G-box element is a moderately conserved component of the promoter of many inducible genes, including the alcohol dehydrogenase genes of Arabidopsis and maize. We used monoclonal antibodies generated against partially purified G-box binding factor (GBF) activity to characterize maize proteins that are part of the DNA binding complex. Antibodies interacted with partially purified maize GBF complexes to produce a slower migrating complex in the gel retardation assay. lmmunoprecipitation experiments suggested that the protein recognized by the antibody is nota DNA binding protein in and of itself, but rather is associated with the DNA binding complex. These monoclonal antibodies were used to isolate cDNA clones encoding a protein that we have designated GF14. Maize GF14 contains a region resembling a leucine zipper and acidic carboxy and amino termini, of which the latter can form an amphipathic a-helix similar to known transcriptional activators such as VP16 and GALA. Protein gel blot analysis of cell culture extract showed that a single, major protein of approximately 30 kD is recognized by anti-GFl4; the protein is also present predominantly in the kernel and root. The deduced amino acid sequence of maize GF14 is more than 80% identical to Arabidopsis GF14 and Oenothera PHP-O, and is more than 60% identical to a class of mammalian brain proteins described as both protein kinase C inhibitors and activators of tyrosine and tryptophan hydroxylases. GF14 is found in a variety of monocotyledons and dicotyledons, gymnosperms, and yeast. This suggests a deep evolutionary conservation of a potential regulatory protein associated with a core sequence found in the promoter region of many genes.

No abstract

No abstract