Nucleotide sequence and expression of the gene for the large subunit of rice ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase.

Abstract

The gene for the large subunit of RuBisCO, ribulose 1, 5-bisphosphate carboxylase (rbcL), from rice was cloned and the nucleotide sequence was determined. The initiation and termination sites of the mRNA were also determined by S1 mapping method. The sequences of promoter region of C3 and C4 type cereal plants were compared and possible C4 plant specific deletion was found. We found no heterogeneous rbcL, less than 5% of the main gene if there is any, in spite of the report by Moon et al. (Nucleic Acids Res. 15: 611 (1987)).