This research proposal describes experiments aimed at determining the molecular basis for mutation and polymorphism at the waxy (Wx) locus of maize. Waxy has been chosen as the focus of this study because it is, at the genetic level, the best characterized higher plant gene; there are over 40 mutant alleles available for analysis. In addition, the Wx gene has been cloned and characterized and all Wx gene products can be easily assayed. Four mutant alleles and many germinal derivatives resultnig from insertion and excision of the transposable elements Activator (Ac) or Dissociation (Ds) will be characterized. Each allele has a unique unstable waxy phenotype; one goal of this proposal is to describe the molecular basis for these phenotypic differences. Experiments are proposed to understand why (1) wx-ml(Ds) can produce new alleles with a gradient of Wx expression, (2) wxB3(Ac) displays only very late somatic reversion, (3) the Ac element in a derivative of wx-m7(Ac) is inactive, (4) wx-m5(Ds) appears to flip-flop from one unstable form to another and (5) an active Ac element may suppress gene expression. Insertions, deletions and rearrangements, found to be the lesions responsible for stable Wx muatations, will also be analyzed in detail. In addition, 2 insertion polymorphisms flanking the Wx gene in certain inbred lines will be characterized. For all proposed research, standard techniques of recombinant DNA and DNA biochemistry will be employed. The project is expected to contribute to an understanding of the elements responsible for restructuring the genomes of higher plants.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM032528-06
Application #
3281460
Study Section
Genetics Study Section (GEN)
Project Start
1983-07-01
Project End
1991-07-31
Budget Start
1988-08-01
Budget End
1989-07-31
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
1988
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Georgia
Department
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
City
Athens
State
GA
Country
United States
Zip Code
30602
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Bureau, T E; Wessler, S R (1994) Stowaway: a new family of inverted repeat elements associated with the genes of both monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants. Plant Cell 6:907-16
Baran, G; Echt, C; Bureau, T et al. (1992) Molecular analysis of the maize wx-B3 allele indicates that precise excision of the transposable Ac element is rare. Genetics 130:377-84
Weil, C F; Marillonnet, S; Burr, B et al. (1992) Changes in state of the Wx-m5 allele of maize are due to intragenic transposition of Ds. Genetics 130:175-85
Purugganan, M; Wessler, S (1992) The splicing of transposable elements and its role in intron evolution. Genetica 86:295-303
Varagona, M J; Purugganan, M; Wessler, S R (1992) Alternative splicing induced by insertion of retrotransposons into the maize waxy gene. Plant Cell 4:811-20
Wessler, S R (1991) The maize transposable Ds1 element is alternatively spliced from exon sequences. Mol Cell Biol 11:6192-6
Okagaki, R J; Neuffer, M G; Wessler, S R (1991) A deletion common to two independently derived waxy mutations of maize. Genetics 128:425-31
Wessler, S; Tarpley, A; Purugganan, M et al. (1990) Filler DNA is associated with spontaneous deletions in maize. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 87:8731-5
Varagona, M; Wessler, S R (1990) Implications for the cis-requirements for Ds transposition based on the sequence of the wxB4 Ds element. Mol Gen Genet 220:414-8

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