Transcriptional Regulation of a Gene Encoding the Small Subunit of Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate Carboxylase in Soybean Tissue is Linked to the Phytochrome Response

The effects of white light, far-red light, and darkness on the transcription of a soybean ribulose-1,5-biphosphate carboxylase small subunit gene, SRS1, were investigated. RNA was labeled with [alpha-32P]UTP in nuclei isolated from plants grown under different conditions of light and darkness and used to probe Southern blots and dot blots. The levels of small subunit mRNA synthesis were normalized to ribosomal RNA synthesis. We demonstrate that the SRS1 gene is transcribed at a rate 16- to 32-fold higher in plants grown in the light than in those grown in darkness. Transcription of the small subunit increased dramatically when plants grown in darkness were given 30 min to 6 h of light and then leveled off after 24 to 48 h of exposure. When light-grown seedlings were exposed to greater than 2 h of darkness, a gradual decrease in transcription was detected. This decrease in transcription reached basal dark-grown levels after 48 h of exposure to darkness. The increase in transcription in etiolated seedlings treated with white light for 15 min could be reduced to basal levels if the treatment was followed by treatment with far-red light for 15 min. In addition, transcription in ligh-grown seedlings was reduced to basal levels when plants were exposed to far-red light for 15 min. The transcription of this ribulose-1,5-biphosphate carboxylase small subunit gene is strongly positively regulated by white light, is negatively regulated by far-red light, and exhibits a classic phytochrome-linked response.