Plant Physiol, September 2000, Vol. 124, pp. 369-378
Molecular Characterization of the Abp1 5'-Flanking
Region in Maize and the Teosintes1
Nabil
Elrouby and
Thomas E.
Bureau*
Department of Biology, McGill University, 1205 Dr. Penfield Avenue,
Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3A 1B1
Auxin-binding protein 1 subsp. mays (ABP1) has been
suggested as a receptor mediating auxin-induced cell expansion and
differentiation. In maize (Zea mays), ABP1 is encoded by
a single gene, Abp1. The TATA and CAAT promoter elements
as well as the transcriptional start site were previously identified
and all were found to be located within a transposable element (TE),
Tourist-Zm11. In this study we report the cloning and
characterization of the Abp1 5'-flanking region in maize
and its wild relatives, the teosintes. We provide evidence for
insertion polymorphism corresponding to Tourist-Zm11 and
two novel TEs, Batuta and Pilgrim.
Despite this polymorphic structure, the Abp1 core
promoter in maize and the teosintes is conserved, is located downstream
of the TE insertions in the 5'-flanking region, and is TATA-less. We
discuss the potential evolutionary impact of these TEs on the
regulation of Abp1 gene expression.
1
This work is funded by a research grant from the
National Science and Engineering Research Council (grant no.
183960-96).
*
Corresponding author; e-mail Thomas_Bureau{at}maclan.mcgill.ca;
fax 514-398-5069.
© 2000 American Society of Plant Physiologists
