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Photosynthesis nuclear genes generally lack TATA‐boxes: a tobacco photosystem I gene responds to light through an initiator
Author(s) -
Nakamura Masayuki,
Tsunoda Tatsuhiko,
Obokata Junichi
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
the plant journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.058
H-Index - 269
eISSN - 1365-313X
pISSN - 0960-7412
DOI - 10.1046/j.0960-7412.2001.01188.x
Subject(s) - tata box , promoter , gene , biology , transcription (linguistics) , transcription factor , genetics , gene expression , linguistics , philosophy
Summary The promoter architecture of the nuclear‐encoded photosystem I genes was studied using a tobacco gene, psaDb , as a model case. Linker scanning mutations revealed that the psaDb promoter does not have a TATA box. Instead, pyrimidine‐rich Initiator (Inr) elements that overlap the transcription start sites are essential for light‐responsive transcription of this gene. When the psaDb promoter was mutated to have a TATA‐box but no Inr, light‐responsive transcription was impaired, indicating that the regulatory system of this gene prefers Inr to a TATA box. As very little is known about plant TATA‐less promoters, we subsequently examined whether this promoter architecture is unique to psaDb . Computer analysis of 232 plant promoters revealed surprising features; the majority of photosynthesis nuclear genes lacked TATA boxes, although the frequency of the TATA‐less promoters in non‐photosynthesis genes was less than 10%. These results strongly suggest that TATA‐independent transcription mechanisms play important roles in the regulated expression of photosynthesis nuclear genes.