The maize α-zein promoter can be utilized as a strong inducer of cellulase enzyme expression in maize kernels.

In this study, we tested three endosperm promoters for expression of a cellulase gene. Promoters tested were rice globulin and glutelin promoters and a maize 19 kDa α-zein promoter. The rice promoters were used in two tandem expression constructs as well. Although the rice promoters were active in producing stable amounts of cellulase, the α-zein promoter was by far the most effective: as much as 9% of total soluble protein was recovered from seed of several independent events and plants. One or two inserts were detected by Southern blot in several lines, indicating that copy number did not appear to be responsible for the differences in protein accumulation. Tissue print analysis indicated that expression was primarily in the endosperm.
PMID: 31264021 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Source: Transgenic Research - June 30, 2019 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Vicuna Requesens D, Gonzalez Romero ME, Devaiah SP, Chang YK, Flory A, Streatfield S, Ring R, Phillips C, Hood NC, Marbaniang CD, Howard JA, Hood EE Tags: Transgenic Res Source Type: research