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Co‐expression of native and introduced genes reveals cryptic regulation of HMG CoA reductase expression in Arabidopsis
Author(s) -
Re Edward B.,
Jones Daniel,
Learned R. Marc
Publication year - 1995
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.1365-313x.1995.07050771.x
Subject(s) - arabidopsis , reductase , arabidopsis thaliana , 7 dehydrocholesterol reductase , biology , hmg coa reductase , transgene , biochemistry , gene , mevalonate pathway , coenzyme a , enzyme , gene expression , mevalonic acid , mutant
In eukaryotes, all isoprenoid compounds share a common precursor, mevalonic acid, whose synthesis is catalyzed by the enzyme 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase. As one step towards a better understanding of the role that this enzyme plays in coodinating isoprenoid biosynthesis in plants, Arabidopsis thaliana HMG CoA reductase was ectopically expressed in transgenic Arabidopsis plants. By using this molecular genetic approach, several novel and fundamental observations have been made regarding isoprenoid biosynthesis in Arabidopsis . First, it was demonstrated that the over‐expression of authentic Arabidopsis HMG CoA reductase is not sufficient to alter the bulk synthesis and accumulation of the abundant end products of the plant isoprenoid pathway. Second, active transcription of the transgene appears to co‐activate and deregulate expression of the native gene, resulting in a striking elevation of HMG CoA reductase mRNA levels. Finally, although very high levels of HMG CoA reductase mRNA were expressed in these transgenic plants, only modest increases in enzyme activity could be detected. Taken together, these data suggest that HMG CoA reductase expression is regulated at multiple levels in plants as well as animals, and they provide a foundation for elucidating the molecular mechanisms for mevalonate regulation in A.thaliana .