Light-independent regulation of chloroplast translation elongation factor tu gene expression in three types of grass: Rice, maize, and barley

Abstract

We have analyzed the effect of light on the steady-state level of the chloroplast elongation factor EF-Tu (tufA) mRNAs during chloroplast biogenesis in rice. The steady-state level of thetufA mRNAs in continuously light-grown seedlings was almost equal to that in the continuously dark-grown seedlings. Furthermore, thetufA transcript level was hardly changed in the transition of dark-grown seedlings to the continuous light and during all chloroplast developmental stages examined. We have previously shown that light had a similar effect on thetufA mRNA level during chloroplast biogenesis in maize. Therefore, we also examined the possibility of the light-regulation of barleytufA mRNA. It turned out that light had no effect on the barleytufA mRNA level either. Although only three types of grass were examined, these results may show a difference oftufA gene expression between grasses and legumina.