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TERE; a novel cis ‐element responsible for a coordinated expression of genes related to programmed cell death and secondary wall formation during differentiation of tracheary elements
Author(s) -
Pyo Hyunjin,
Demura Taku,
Fukuda Hiroo
Publication year - 2007
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 - 10.1111/j.1365-313x.2007.03180.x
Subject(s) - autolysis (biology) , gene , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , gene expression , function (biology) , promoter , arabidopsis , cellular differentiation , secondary cell wall , regulation of gene expression , programmed cell death , genetics , mutant , biochemistry , enzyme , apoptosis
Summary The differentiation of water‐conducting tracheary elements (TEs) is the result of the orchestrated construction of secondary wall structure, including lignification, and programmed cell death (PCD), including cellular autolysis. To understand the orchestrated regulation of differentiation of TEs, we investigated the regulatory mechanism of gene expression directing TE differentiation. Detailed loss‐of‐function and gain‐of‐function analyses of the ZCP4 ( Zinnia cysteine protease 4 ) promoter, which confers TE‐specific expression, demonstrated that a novel 11‐bp cis ‐element is necessary and sufficient for the immature TE‐specific promoter activity. The 11‐bp cis ‐element‐like sequences were found in promoters of many Arabidopsis TE differentiation‐related genes. A gain‐of‐function analysis with similar putative cis ‐elements from secondary wall formation or modification‐related genes as well as PCD‐related genes indicated that the cis ‐elements are also sufficient for TE‐specific expression of genes. These results demonstrate that a common sequence, designated as the tracheary‐element‐regulating cis ‐element, confers TE‐specific expression to both genes related to secondary wall formation or modification and PCD.