(289) GUS Expression in LEACO10.92kb-GUS Tobacco Plants Suggests That Auxin and Ethylene Are Involved in LEACO10.92kb Promoter Induction

Abstract

A 920 bp fragment of the ACC oxidase gene promoter from tomato (LEACO1) was used to drive GUS gene expression. The LEACO10.92kb fragment contained two stress-responsive short motifs; a 10 bp TCA motif (5'-TCATCTTCTT-3') twice (allowing two substitutions) and an 8 bp element (5'-AA/TTTCAAA-3') once. The TCA motif is found in over 30 stress- and pathogen-inducible genes while the 8 bp element is necessary for ethylene-response in the carnation GST1 and the tomato E4 gene promoters. Previously in chrysanthemum, cytokinin regulation with LEACO10.92kb produced dramatic increases in lateral branching and bud initiation. Tobacco plants carrying LEACO10.92kb–GUS were used to examine the response of the LEACO10.92kb promoter to various hormones and hormone inhibitors. GUS activity in LEACO10.92kb–GUS plants was detected in leaves and stems, but not roots. High expression was detected in shoots with the apical bud intact, but GUS activity decreased with the apical bud removed. Applying IAA to the shoot apex after removing the apical bud, restored GUS activity. However, the IAA transport inhibitor TIBA reduced GUS activity in shoots with intact apical buds, and in IAA-treated shoots with excised buds. In shoots with excised apical buds, GUS activity increased when the ethylene precursor ACC was applied, but decreased in intact shoots when the ethylene biosynthesis inhibitor AOA was applied. These data suggest that auxins produced in the apical meristem are capable of regulating LEACO10.92kb activity, probably through auxin-induced ethylene biosynthetic pathway activity.