Transcriptional Regulation of the Maize Anthocyanin Pathway

对玉米花色素苷途径的广泛遗传分析 揭示了多个靶基因，其表达是协调的， 由几个调控基因控制。我们的目标是了解 基因编码的转录机制 花青苷生物合成酶是由 三个调节基因，B、c1和a3。建议在体内和在 体外实验应该使我们能够开始区分 调节蛋白如何相互作用的可能模型 控制转录。我们的具体目标是：1）突变 剖析C1和B相互作用所需的区域，2） 鉴定其他涉及的蛋白质，3）开发体外测定， 分析B和C1蛋白/蛋白相互作用，4）评估是否 B和C1蛋白直接与结构基因相互作用 调控位点，5）鉴定B所需的顺式作用位点 和未表征的结构基因启动子的C1调节，6） 使用现有技术鉴定B的功能重要区域 转座因子插入，7）确定a3是否作用于 转录水平，如果是，克隆并表征A3。 %%% 从这些研究中学到的基因调控原理应该 适用于其他系统，其中结合了遗传和分子 方法尚不可行。

Extensive genetic analyses of the maize anthocyanin pathway have revealed multiple target genes, whose expression is coordinately controlled by several regulatory genes. Our goal is to understand the mechanisms by which the transcription of the genes encoding the anthocyanin biosynthetic enzymes is coordinately controlled by three regulatory genes, b, c1, and a3. The proposed in vivo and in vitro experiments should enable us to begin to distinguish between possible models for how the regulatory proteins are interacting to control transcription. Our specific aims are to : 1) mutationally dissect the regions of C1 and B required for their interaction, 2) identify other proteins involved, 3) develop in vitro assays for analyzing B and C1 protein/protein interactions, 4) assess whether the B and C1 proteins interact directly with structural gene regulatory sites, 5) identify the cis-acting sites required for B and C1 regulation of uncharacterized structural gene promoters, 6) identify functionally important regions of B using available transposable element insertions, 7) determine if a3 is acting at the transcriptional level and if so, clone and characterize a3. %%% Principles of gene regulation learned from these studies should apply to other systems where a combined genetic and molecular approach is not yet feasible.