A Homologous Repetitive Block Structure Underlies the Heterogeneity of Heavy and Light Chain Zein Genes

Overview

Journal EMBO J

Specialties Biotechnology
Molecular Biology

Date 1982 Jan 1

PMID 16453440

Citations 23

Authors

A Spena

A Viotti

V Pirrotta

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Heavy and light chain zein genes from maize, affected by different regulatory loci, are related in sequence and structure. The two kinds of genes code for a signal peptide, a head region of 67 amino acids, six and a half to eight repetitive blocks of 20 amino acids each and a short tail piece. This block structure would allow inter or intragenic recombination giving rise to heterogeneous zein genes. Length variation in zein polypeptides is also due to the occurrence of termination mutations within some genes. Homology between heavy and light chain zein genes extends to the flanking sequences where a short region at the 5' end of the transcript can base pair with the 3' end and may have regulatory implications.

Citing Articles

Conformations of a highly expressed Z19 α-zein studied with AlphaFold2 and MD simulations.

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Subcellular localization of glutelin-2 in maize (Zea mays L.) endosperm.

Ludevid M, Torrent M, Martinez-Izquierdo J, Puigdomenech P, Palau J Plant Mol Biol. 2013; 3(4):227-34.

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In maize, glutelin-2 and low molecular weight zeins are synthesized by membrane-bound polyribosomes and translocated into microsomal membranes.

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A 23.8-kD alpha-zein with N-terminal sequence and immunological properties similar to 26.7-kD alpha-zeins.

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Characterization of the kafirin gene family from sorghum reveals extensive homology with zein from maize.

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