Expression of storage-protein genes during soybean seed development

Abstract

Mature seeds of Glycine max (L.) Merr. contain two major storage proteins, a glycosylated 7S protein (conglycinin) and a non-glycosylated 11S protein (glycinin). Accumulation of these proteins and their mRNAs during seed development in cv. Provar was studied by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and by "Northern" (DNA-RNA) hybridization. The 11S acidic and basic subunits and the 7S α' and α subunits began to accumulate 18-20 d after pollination, shortly after the termination of cell division in developing cotyledons, whereas the 7S β and 11S A-4 subunits were not detected until one to two weeks later, during the maturation phase of development. Messenger RNAs for 7S and 11S proteins were first detected 14-18 d after pollination, several days before the accumulation of storage proteins. Extracts from embryonic axes contained reduced levels of the 7S α subunit, very little 11S protein, no detectable 7S β or 11S A-4 subunits, and an additional 7S subunit not found in cotyledons. Soybean axes and cotyledons therefore differ in their synthesis of seed storage proteins.

Expression of d-myo-Inositol-3-Phosphate Synthase in Soybean. Implications for Phytic Acid Biosynthesis

“…4A). MIPS transcript was observed in cotyledons at the earliest developmental stages analyzed, 0 to 2 mm (corresponding in size up to approximately stage C; Meinke et al, 1981). Maximal levels of MIPS RNA were observed in 2-to 4-mm seeds (equivalent to stages D-F; Fig.…”

“…Immature seed samples were grouped by developmental stages as described previously (Meinke et al, 1981). Stages collected included: E ϭ 2.6 to 3.4 mm, F ϭ 3.6 to 4.4 mm, G ϭ 4.6 to 5.4 mm, H ϭ 5.6 to 6.4 mm, I ϭ 6.6 to 7.4 mm, J ϭ 7.6 to 8.4 mm, K ϭ 8.6 to 9.4 mm, and L ϭ 9.6 to 10.4 mm.…”

Seed-Specific Gene Activation Mediated by the Cre/lox Site-Specific Recombination System

“…In each case the expression was earlier in the development of transgenic tobacco embryos than expected from previous reports. Soybean P-conglycinin genes (a', a, and P subunits) are highly expressed in soybean embryos in midto late-maturation stages (Meinke et al, 1981;Walling et al, 1986). In situ hybridization analysis of P-conglycinin expression (both a' and / 3 subunit mRNAs hybridized to the probe) showed no expression in globular-, heart-, or cotyledon-stage soybean embryos (Perez-Grau and Goldberg, 1989).…”

Using Genomics to Study Legume Seed Development

“…This sunbean experiment showed that gene cloning and Agrobacterium tumefaciens transformation techniques could be combined to transfer foreign genes into plant cells and study their function. Research in several laboratories with legume seed protein genes, such as b-conglycinin, glycinin, Kunitz trypsin inhibitor, and lectin, showed that their mRNA accumulation patterns are regulated temporally and spatially (Goldberg et al, 1981a(Goldberg et al, , 1983Meinke et al, 1981;Rerie et al, 1992) and controlled by both transcriptional and posttranscriptional processes (Evans et al, 1984;Beach et al, 1985;Chappell and Chrispeels, 1986;Walling et al, 1986). Subsequent work determined that cisregulatory sequences flanking legume seed protein genes could confer embryo-specific expression patterns in heterologous plants, such as tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) and petunia (Petunia hybrida; Chen et al, 1986;Okamuro et al, 1986;Jofuku et al, 1987;Higgins et al, 1988;Naito et al, 1988;Baumlein et al, 1992;Wohlfarth et al, 1998;Chandrasekharan et al, 2003).…”