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Characterization of nucleotide sequences that interact with a nuclear protein fraction in rRNA gene of Vicia faba

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Abstract

A certain nucleotide sequence in the promoter region of Vicia faba rRNA genes that specifically binds to a nuclear protein fraction has been identified by using a gel retardation assay and DNase I footprinting technique. The binding site of this protein fraction is located about 60 bp upstream from the initiation site of the pre-rRNA transcript. This location does not correspond with previously reported results on maize rRNA genes. However, both of the binding sites share a bi-partite consensus sequence, TAT-G(N)xCAGG. Methylation interference experiments show that two G residues in TATG and the complementary strand of CAGG are important for specific DNA-protein interaction. Furthermore, competition analyses using point-mutated synthetic DNAs show that two G residues in CAGG are essential for this interaction. Similar sequences are found in promoter regions of other plant and animal rRNA genes. We suggest that these sequences may be a cis-control element commonly involved in rRNA transcription.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University, Kita 10, Nishi 8, Kitaku, 060, Sapporo, Japan

    Tadaka Nakajima, Akihiro Suzuki, Shigeyuki Tanifuji & Atsushi Kato

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  1. Tadaka Nakajima
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  2. Akihiro Suzuki
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  3. Shigeyuki Tanifuji
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  4. Atsushi Kato
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Nakajima, T., Suzuki, A., Tanifuji, S. et al. Characterization of nucleotide sequences that interact with a nuclear protein fraction in rRNA gene of Vicia faba . Plant Mol Biol 20, 939–949 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00027164

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00027164

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