Summary
The gene family encoding the Arabidopsis thaliana translation elongation factor (EF-1α) was analysed. This family contains four genes (A1-A4) organized in a similar manner in different varieties of Arabidopsis. Based upon both their physical separation and a comparison of their sequences, it is suggested that the A4 gene and the A1, A2, and A3 genes constitute two distinct subfamilies within the genome. By introducing chimaeric gene constructs into Arabidopsis cells, we showed that the Al gene promoter mediates a transient expression about twofold higher than that obtained using the CaMV 35 S promoter. This expression depends on a 348 by DNA fragment extending from −982 to −634 by upstream of the initiation codon. This element contains a characteristic telomeric sequence (AACCCTAA) which is also found in the promoters of the A2 and A4 genes as well as in the promoters of the Drosophila EF-1α F1 gene and of several highly expressed plant genes.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Brands JHGM, Maassen JA, Van Hemert FJ, Anions R, Möller W (1986) The primary structure of the α subunit of human elongation factor 1. Eur J Biochem 155:167–171
Buchman AR, Kimmerly WJ, Rine J, Kornberg RD (1988) Two DNA-binding factors recognize specific sequences at silencers, upstream activating sequences, autonomously replicating sequences, and telomeres in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Mol Cell Biol 8:210–225
Castresana C, Garcia-Luque I, Alonson E, Malik VS, Cashmere AR (1988) Both positive and negative regulatory elements mediate expression of a photoregulated CAB gene from Nicotiana plumbaginifolia. EMBO J 7:1929–1936
Cottrelle P, Cool M, Thuriaux P, Price VL, Thiele D, Buhler JM, Fromageot P (1985a) Either one of the two yeast EF-1α genes is required for cell viability. Curr Genet 9:693–697
Cottrelle P, Thiele D, Price VL, Memet S, Micouin J-Y, Mark C, Buhler JM, Sentenac A, Fromageot P (1985b) Cloning, nucleotide sequence, and expression of one of two genes coding for yeast elongation factor 1 α. J Biol Chem 260:3090–3096
Henikoff S (1984) Unidirectional digestion with exonuclease III creates targeted breakpoints for DNA sequencing. Gene 28:351–359
Hovemann B, Richter S, Waldorf U, Cziepluch C (1988) Two genes encode related cytoplasmic elongation factors (EF-1α) in Drosophila melanogaster with continuous and stage specific expression. Nucleic Acids Res 16:3175–3193
Huet J, Cottrelle P, Cool M, Vignais ML, Thiele D, Mark C, Buhler JM, Sentenac A, Fromageot P (1985) A general upstream binding factor for genes of the yeast translational apparatus. EMBO J 4:3539–3547
Jefferson RA, Kavanagh TA, Bevan MW (1987) GUS fusions: β-glucuronidase as a sensitive and versatile gene fusion marker in higher plants. EMBO J 6:3901–3907
Jouanneau JP, Péaud-Lenoël C (1967) Croissance et synthèse des protéines de suspensions cellulaires de tabac sensibles à la kinétine. Physiol Plant 20:834–850
Jurnak F (1985) Structure of the GDP domain of EF-Tu and location of the amino acids homologous to ras oncogene proteins. Science 230:32–36
Krebbers E, Seurinck J, Herdies L, Cashmere AR, Timko MP (1988) Four genes in two diverged subfamilies encode the ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase small subunit polypeptides of Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant Mol Biol 11:745–759
Leer RJ, Van Raamsdonk-Duin MC, Mager WH, Planta RJ (1985) Conserved sequences upstream of yeast ribosomal protein genes. Curr Genet 9:273–277
Lendstra JA, Van Vliet A, Arnberg AC, Van Hemert FJ, Möller W (1986) Genes coding for the elongation factor EF-1α in Artermia. Eur J Biochem 155:475–483
Linz JE, Katayama C, Sypherd PS (1986) Three genes for the elongation factor EF-1α in Mucor racemosus. Mol Cell Biol 6:593–600
Mager WH (1988) Control of ribosomal protein gene expression. Biochem Biophys Acta 949:1–15
Maniatis T, Fritsch EF, Sambrook J (1982) Molecular cloning: a laboratory manual. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY
Messing J (1983) Sequencing end-labeled DNA with base-specific chemical cleavages. Methods Enzymol 65:499–560
Meyerowitz EM, Pruitt RE (1985) Arabidopsis thaliana and plant molecular genetics. Science 229:1214–1218
Moyzis RK, Buckingham JM, Cram LS, Dani M, Deaven LL, Jones MD, Meyne J, Ratliff RL, Wu J-R (1988) A highly conserved repetitive DNA sequence, (TTAGGG)n, present at the telomeres of human chromosomes. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 85:6622–6626
Odell JT, Knowlton S, Lin W, Mauvais J (1988) Properties of an isolated transcription stimulating sequence derived from the cauliflower mosaic virus 35 S promoter. Plant Mol Biol 10:263–272
Pang PP, Pruitt RE, Meyerowitz EM (1988) Molecular cloning, genomic organization, expression and evolution of 12 S seed storage protein genes of Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant Mot Biol 11:805–820
Pröls M, Töpfer R, Schell J, Steinbiss H-H (1988) Transient gene expression in tobacco protoplasts. Plant Cell Rep 7:221–224
Rao TR, Slobin LI (1986) Structure of the amino-terminal end of mammalian elongation factor Tu. Nucleic Acids Res 14:2409
Redei GP (1975) Arabidopsis as a genetic tool. Annu Rev Genet 9:111–139
Richards EJ, Ausubel FM (1988) Isolation of a higher eukaryotic telomere from Arabidopsis thaliana. Cell 53:127–136
Sandbaken MG, Culbertson MR (1988) Mutations in elongation factor EF-1α affect the frequency of frame shifting and amino acid misincorporation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Genetics 120:923–934
Sanders PR, Winter JA, Barnason AR, Rogers SG, Fraley RT (1987) Comparison of cauliflower mosaic virus 35 S and nopaline synthase promoters in transgenic plants. Nucleic Acids Res 15:1543–1558
Sanger F, Nicklen S, Coulson AR (1977) DNA sequencing with chain-terminating inhibitors. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 74:5463–5467
Shore D, Nasmyth K (1987) Purification and cloning of a DNA binding protein from yeast that binds to both silencer and activator elements. Cell 51:721–732
Slobin LI (1980) The role of eucaryotic elongation factor Tu in protein synthesis. Eur J Biochem 110:555–563
Thiele D, Cottrelle P, Iborra F, Buhler JM, Sentenac A, Fromageot P (1985) Elongation factor 1α from Saccharomyees cerevisiae. J Biol Chem 260:3084–3089
Van der Meide PH, Vijgenboom E, Dicke M, Bosh L (1982) Regulation of the expression of tuf A and tuf B, the two genes coding for the elongation factor EF-Tu in E. coli. FEBS Lett 139:325–330
Vijgenboom E, Bosh L (1987) Transfer of plasmid-borne tuf mutations to the chromosome as a genetic tool for studying the functioning of EF-Tu A and EF-Tu B in the E. coli cell. Biochimie 69:1021–1030
Vijgenboom E, Nilson L, Bosh L (1988) The elongation factor EF-Tu from E. coli binds to the upstream activator region of the tRNA-tuf B operon. Nucleic Acids Res 16:10183–10197
Walldorf V, Hovemann B, Bautz EKF (1985) F1 and 172: two similar genes regulated differently during development of Drosophila melanogaster. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 82:5795–5799
Walter MH, Grima-Pettenati J, Grand C, Boudet AM, Lamb CJ (1988) Cinnamyl-alcohol dehydrogenase, a molecular marker specific for lignin synthesis: cDNA cloning and mRNA induction by fungal elicitor. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 85:5546–5550
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Axelos, M., Bardet, C., Liboz, T. et al. The gene family encoding the Arabidopsis thaliana translation elongation factor EF-1α: Molecular cloning, characterization and expression. Molec. Gen. Genet. 219, 106–112 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00261164
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00261164