Differential expression of six light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b binding protein genes in maize leaf cell types

• Published in: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS Vol. 83; no. 20; pp. 7811 - 7815
• Main Authors: Sheen, J.Y, Bogorad, L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 01.10.1986; National Acad Sciences
• Subjects: Antibodies; Biological and medical sciences; CELLS; CELLULE; CELULAS; Chlorophyll - analysis; Chlorophyll - genetics; Chlorophyll - immunology; CHLOROPHYLLE; CHLOROPHYLLS; CLOROFILAS; Complementary DNA; Corn; DNA; DNA - analysis; FEUILLE; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gels; GENE; Gene expression; GENES; Genomics; Greening; HOJAS; LEAVES; Light-Harvesting Protein Complexes; Mesophyll cells; Messenger RNA; Molecular and cellular biology; Molecular genetics; Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins; Photosystem II Protein Complex; Plant Proteins - analysis; Plant Proteins - genetics; Plant Proteins - immunology; PROTEINAS; PROTEINE; PROTEINS; RNA, Messenger - analysis; Transcription, Genetic; ZEA MAYS; Zea mays - genetics; Chlorophyll; Monocotyledones; Vegetals; Zea mays; Inheritance; Plant leaf; Gene expression; Binding protein; Regulation(control); Gramineae; Angiospermae; Spermatophyta; Photosynthesis
• ISSN: 0027-8424; 1091-6490
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.83.20.7811

Bundle sheath chloroplasts of maize leaves contain about one-fourth as much light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b binding protein of photosystem II (LHCP-II) as do mesophyll chloroplasts. We have determined that this difference is, in part, the result of differential expression of different LHCP-II genes. We have prepared and partially characterized cDNA clones specific for six LHCP-II genes of maize. Transcripts of these six LHCP-II genes are present at vastly different levels and account for about 95% of total LHCP-II mRNAs in bundle sheath and mesophyll cells of illuminated dark-grown maize leaves. Three genes are preferentially expressed in mesophyll cells, and their mRNAs constitute about 54% of the total LHCP-II transcripts in greening (24 hr) maize leaves. Two genes are expressed equally in bundle sheath and mesophyll cells. Most interestingly, the RNA of one gene that contributes about 8% of the total LHCP-II transcripts in leaves greening for 24 hr is present at a much higher level in bundle sheath than in mesophyll cells. Moreover, immunoblot analysis of maize thylakoids reveals at least five sizes of LHCP-II; these also differ from one another in their relative abundance in bundle sheath and mesophyll cells of developing maize leaves.