Anaerobic Stress Induces the Transcription and Translation of Sucrose Synthase in Rice

Sucrose synthase activity increased in 2-day-old rice (Oryza sativa) seedlings submitted to anaerobic stress. Likewise, both denaturing and native Western blot analysis detected a rise in the cellular concentration of sucrose synthase protein. Significantly higher steady-state levels of sucrose synthase mRNA, as determined by Northern blots and by the ability of total RNA to direct in vitro synthesis of sucrose synthase, were also induced by anaerobic treatment. Analysis of run-on transcripts showed increased transcription of sucrose synthase genes as early as 60 minutes after initiation of anaerobic stress. Together, these results indicate that sucrose synthase is a typical anaerobic protein in rice.