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Gene expression during maize kernel development

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2008

Douglas C. Doehlert ,
Leslie J. Smith  and
Edwin R. Duke
Douglas C. Doehlert*
Affiliation:
Phytoproducts Research Unit, USDA/ARS National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, 1815 N. University Street, Peoria, IL 61604, USA
Leslie J. Smith
Affiliation:
Phytoproducts Research Unit, USDA/ARS National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, 1815 N. University Street, Peoria, IL 61604, USA
Edwin R. Duke
Affiliation:
Phytoproducts Research Unit, USDA/ARS National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, 1815 N. University Street, Peoria, IL 61604, USA
*
* Correspondence
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Abstract

Relationships have been investigated between gene transcript abundance, enzyme activities and storage product accumulation in developing maize (Zea mays L.) kernels from 10 to 55 days postpollination (DPP). At the early stages of kernel development, there was very little increase in dry weight but kernels accumulated high concentrations of sugars and amino acids. At the end of this ‘lag’ phase (at 15 DPP), many transcripts appeared with little evidence of their translation. The initiation of the kernel-fill period at 20 DPP was characterized by a sudden rise in total RNA, increases in enzyme activities, and the initiation of storage product accumulation. Zein accumulation during this phase was highly correlated with α-zein transcript abundance. Starch accumulation was correlated with both the activity of ADP-GIc pyrophosphorylase and the abundance of gene transcripts encoding this enzyme (Shrunken-2 and Brittle-2). DNA content of kernels increased linearly up to 30 DPP as a result of endoreplication, but had no apparent relationship to gene expression. DNA may accumulate as a storage product. Kernel-fill terminated when the moisture content fell below 36% and was marked by a decline of transcripts and a reduction of enzyme activities.

Keywords

enzyme activitiesgene expressionseed developmentstorage productsZea mays L.
Type
Research Papers
Information
Seed Science Research , Volume 4 , Issue 3 , September 1994 , pp. 299 - 305
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1994

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