Abstract
Tetrapyrrole compounds, such as chlorophylls and hemes, are synthesized in many enzymatic steps. For regulation of tetrapyrrole metabolic pathway, it is generally considered that several specific isoforms catalyzing particular enzymatic steps control the flow of tetrapyrrole intermediates by differential regulation of gene expression depending on environmental and developmental factors. However, coordination of such regulatory steps and orchestration of total tetrapyrrole metabolic pathway are still poorly known. In this study, we developed miniarray system, which enables to monitor the specific gene expression profiling of total tetrapyrrole metabolic pathway. Gene specific regions of total 35 Arabidopsis genes corresponding to tetrapyrrole metabolism were amplified by RT-PCR, and used as probes for the miniarray system. After confirmation of the specificity of these probes by genomic Southern hybridization, all probes were spotted onto nylon membranes together with light- and phytohormone-responsive genes as control. Results of gene expression profiling with this miniarray system will be presented.
