EXPRESSION PATTERN OF URICASE-II GENE DURING ROOT-NODULE DEVELOPMENT IN PHASEOLUS-VULGARIS

A Phaseolus vulgaris uricase II cDNA clone has been isolated and seque nced. Comparison on the nucleotide level between this clone and the so ybean uricase II clone revealed 88.8% identity. The in situ hybridizat ion technique was used to follow the expression pattern in developing root nodules of Phaseolus vulgaris. The uricase II transcripts were lo calized only in the uninfected cells of the central tissue and mainly in the periphery of the cell. Uricase II mRNA is first detected in nod ules 12 days after infection. A maximum level of transcripts is reache d in 21-day-old nodules, followed by a considerable reduction in 28-da y-old nodules.