I propose to study the anaerobic-stress response in Zea mays. Anaerobic treatment dramatically alters the pattern of gene expression in maize seedlings. During anaerobiosis there is an immediate repression of pre-existing protein synthesis followed by an induction of gene expression involving the synthesis of approximately twenty anaerobic-specific proteins. Among these anaerobic proteins (ANPs) are the alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) isozymes encoded by the Adh1 and Adh2 genes. The anaerobic-stress response of maize offers a unique opportunity to characterize the regulatory components of a family of twenty genes which are coordinately expressed. The overall aim of this proposal is to use the powerful tools of genetics and recombinant DNA technology to analyze this highly regulated response. I plan to identify and characterize the genes involved in a plant's response to an environmental stress which would occur in nature during flooding. These genes include the remaining anaerobic-specific genes, and those encoding the transition polypeptides which are a group of proteins synthesized preferentially during the first few hours of anaerobic treatment. It also includes possible trans-acting genes that might control this physiological response. Sequence comparisons and expression studies will be carried out to identify regions within the anaerobic genes that may be responsible for the induction of transcription and their selective translation during anaerobiosis. It is anticipated that these studies will contribute toward the understanding of the eukaryotic gene as a functional unit and to some aspects of differential gene expression.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM034740-03
Application #
3286247
Study Section
Molecular Biology Study Section (MBY)
Project Start
1985-04-01
Project End
1988-09-19
Budget Start
1987-04-01
Budget End
1988-09-19
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
1987
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Washington University
Department
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
062761671
City
Saint Louis
State
MO
Country
United States
Zip Code
63130
Lal, S K; Lee, C; Sachs, M M (1998) Differential regulation of enolase during anaerobiosis in maize. Plant Physiol 118:1285-93
Lal, S K; Sachs, M M (1995) Cloning and characterization of an anaerobically induced cDNA encoding glucose-6-phosphate isomerase from maize. Plant Physiol 108:1295-6
Saab, I N; Sachs, M M (1995) Complete cDNA and genomic sequence encoding a flooding-responsive gene from maize (Zea mays L.) homologous to xyloglucan endotransglycosylase. Plant Physiol 108:439-40
Subbaiah, C C; Bush, D S; Sachs, M M (1994) Elevation of cytosolic calcium precedes anoxic gene expression in maize suspension-cultured cells. Plant Cell 6:1747-62
Subbaiah, C C; Zhang, J; Sachs, M M (1994) Involvement of intracellular calcium in anaerobic gene expression and survival of maize seedlings. Plant Physiol 105:369-76
Peschke, V M; Sachs, M M (1994) Characterization and expression of transcripts induced by oxygen deprivation in maize (Zea mays L.). Plant Physiol 104:387-94
Peschke, V M; Sachs, M M (1993) Multiple pyruvate decarboxylase genes in maize are induced by hypoxia. Mol Gen Genet 240:206-12
Watson, N R; Peschke, V M; Russell, D A et al. (1992) Analysis of L-alanine:2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase isozymes in maize. Biochem Genet 30:371-83
Russell, D A; Sachs, M M (1991) The maize cytosolic glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene family: organ-specific expression and genetic analysis. Mol Gen Genet 229:219-28
Lemke-Keyes, C A; Sachs, M M (1989) Anaerobic tolerant null: a mutant that allows Adh1 nulls to survive anaerobic treatment. J Hered 80:316-9

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