Abstract
The physiological studies using deficient mutants of the subunit genes of the heterotrimeric G proteins in plants have suggested that the G proteins were involved in many signaling pathways after perception of external signals. A rice mutant of the α subunit (Gα) gene, d1 showed characteristic phenotypes, such as dwarfism and set small round seeds. Rice Gα may concern with cell division or cell elongation.
We investigated the expression pattern of the Gα gene. First, we constructed the chimera gene which consisted with the promoter of the subunit and the β-glucronidase (GUS) as a reporter gene, namely Gα promoter::GUS and introduced the chimera gene into wild-type rice plants. The GUS expression in transformant expressing Gα promoter::GUS was observed in elongating stage of leaf,internodes,lemma and palea, not in mature stage. These results indicated that the Gα functions at developing tissue.
