抄録
Makorin RING finger protein gene (MKRN) family encodes proteins with a characteristic array of zinc-finger motifs. We characterized the structure and expression of MKRN gene from pea and rice. Pea and rice MKRN cDNAs encoded putative *makorin* consisting of four C3H motifs, one Cys-His motif, and one RING motif. This feature clearly established that this gene in pea and rice as true MKRN orthologs. RT-PCR studies in pea and rice revealed that MKRN transcripts were present at very low levels even in dry seeds. Its expression was induced during imbibition and germination periods. A tissue-dependent expression pattern of MKRN was observed in root and shoot tissues in the later stages. In situ hybridization study, in rice, revealed that MKRN was expressed in young plumule, lateral root primordia, leaf primordia, leaves and roots. These findings suggest that MKRN plays an important role in germination and development in both pea and rice.
